How to Spot a Contractor Scam

Darren Driscoll • October 14, 2013

how-to-spot-a-contractor-scamThe news has been full of contractor scam stories from all over the nation. This prompted me to take a moment to talk to you about how you can avoid being taken in by one of these scams.

After all, they give us legitimate contractors a bad name.

Most of these scams actually revolve around roof repair. I think this is because homeowners rarely want to get up on the roof to see for themselves whether or not there’s a problem, especially if they’re elderly.

I also think that there’s a lot of fear in general about roof damage. After all, if the roof goes the whole house will be in trouble soon after.

But in truth, any kind of home repair can become the focus of a home improvement scam.

How do the Scams Work?

Usually it starts with a knock on the door. The “contractor” may helpfully tell you that he’s noticed some damage, and he may try to talk you into an inspection.

In some versions of the scam, the contractor then tries to charge you an inspection fee, or tries to pressure you into hiring them because they performed an inspection. They may try to convince you that your insurance will pay for it.

In some cases, the scammer will actually cause damage to your home in an effort to ensure that you hire him, or keep hiring him. This happened to a lady here in Florida recently. The lady in the story lost nearly $13000 to a scammer who was actively causing problems in her home so that there would always be something for him to come back and “fix.”

How Do You Spot Scammers?

First, be wary of anyone who knocks on your door. Legitimate contractors don’t usually use door-to-door sales. We’re certainly not driving around peering at people’s homes trying to spot problems.

We’re too busy doing work! We usually get that work when a homeowner calls us , or when we get a referral.

Legitimate contractors also have references and license numbers. Ask for them and verify them!

Check the contractor’s website, too. Do they even have one? Does it inspire you to trust their business? What do their former customers have to say?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions, and if anything doesn’t seem right, walk away. If you really think you need that work done, consider calling someone who didn’t try to solicit the work from you.

Your home is your greatest asset, so don’t take any chances with it!

We’ve installed seamless aluminum rain gutters for homeowners in Beverley Hills, Wesley Chapel, and Largo for over 37 years. Contact us for a free estimate on your new gutters today.

Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best?

By Darren Driscoll • February 17, 2020
Everybody wants to save money on home maintenance costs. We get it. Even if you realize the full extent of everything your gutters do to protect your home from water damage, you probably don’t want to spend an arm and a leg making it happen. So if you’re considering DIY gutter installation, hey, we can hardly blame you. After all, we know, and you know, that you could go grab a 6″ x 10″ aluminum K-style gutter in 10″ lengths for about $15 at your local Home Depot. So how do you know whether you should do that, or whether you [...] Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best? is from Rain Control Gutters The post Seamless Gutters vs. Regular Gutters: Which is Best? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

What are Galvalume Gutters?

By Darren Driscoll • February 3, 2020
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Are Copper Gutters Worth the Investment?

By Darren Driscoll • January 20, 2020
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What Are K-Style Gutters (aka Ogee Gutters)?

By Darren Driscoll • January 3, 2020
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Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters

By Darren Driscoll • October 4, 2019
Todd Dudkewic has retired after over 40 years of owning and managing Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. He’s sold the business to us, the Driscolls. We’ve always wanted to own a family business, so this is an exciting opportunity for us! We’re Darren and Gwen Driscoll, and we’re excited to step into Todd’s tradition of providing excellent, ethical rain gutter service to the residents of Central Florida. Darren worked with Todd for over a decade before taking this step. Darren comes from a management role at a very successful Master Elite Residential Roofing Company (Sharpe Professional Roofing, LLC). [...] Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters is from Rain Control Gutters The post Rain Control Aluminum of Central Florida Inc. is Now Rain Control Gutters appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

Why You Should Invest in Flo-Free Leaf Guards Before Selling Your Home

By Darren Driscoll • June 29, 2019
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5 Best Seamless Gutter Installers in Odessa, FL in 2019

By Darren Driscoll • June 1, 2019
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Be Prepared: Hurricane Season 2019

By Darren Driscoll • May 28, 2019
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5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor

By Darren Driscoll • April 30, 2019
Nobody spends a lot of time taking Pinterest photos of their gutters or talking about them on HGTV. But they’re one of the most important parts of your house.   Especially in the Tampa metro area! Our torrential rains are no joke.   Your gutters protect your home. Which means your gutter contractor had best be someone good at his or her job.   But how can you know?   You’ve got to do a little research. Here are some things to look for. 1. A ton of positive reviews. Look, customers aren’t exactly unaware of Google+, Yelp, and Facebook recommendations.   If a gutter company can’t get great reviews, something’s [...] 5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor is from Rain Control Gutters The post 5 Things to Look For When Hiring a Gutter Contractor appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.

What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim?

By Darren Driscoll • March 30, 2019
Water damage is brutal. It can ruin both your home and your belongings. It can leave behind mold, an even more destructive force. And if you’re not mitigating your water damage risk because you think insurance will cover everything, you may be in for a rude awakening. Insurance is for emergencies. Homeowner’s insurance typically covers things like tree limbs falling and tearing a hole in your roof, or tornadoes ripping the shingles away. It doesn’t cover basic maintenance failures, or even, always, the results of those maintenance failures. “If the damage is not sudden or accidental, but instead is the result of a [...] What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim? is from Rain Control Gutters The post What’s Covered in a Water Damage Insurance Claim? appeared first on Rain Control Gutters.
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