Preventing Elder Abuse -
Home Improvement Scams

BE WARY OF HOME IMPROVEMENT SCAMS

Home improvement scams are often committed by groups of individuals who go door-to-door in an effort to sell their services. They promise to do the work for a very low price if the person agrees to have the work done immediately. After agreeing, the victim may find that the fee is much higher than stated and the quality of the work (if it is done at all) is substandard. It is not unusual for the scam artist to do the work at a low fee for one person in the neighborhood as a way to create a "referral". Overcharging is just one risk associated. Far too often the "worker" will ask to use the bathroom or get a drink of water, then when left unattended in the home, will steal items of value. By the time the victim realizes the loss the criminal is long gone.

HOME IMPROVEMENT DO's and DON'Ts

DO

• Get a bid (more than one) from an established business, if the deal seems to good to be true there is a pretty good chance it is a scam
• Be suspicious if someone comes to your door or calls you with an offer to do a home improvement
• Obtain the contractor's license number and contact the Contractors State License Board, Better Business Bureau or Chamber of Commerce to determine that the person offering to perform the improvements is licensed and reputable
• Insist on and check referrals

DON'T

• Rush - rarely is there a legitimate reason for an offer that is good "for today only". If someone tells you that, be very suspicious
• Accept work from an unlicensed contractor
• Allow work to be done without a written contract that specifies things such as materials to be used, completion date, and a fair payment schedule that pays for work as it is completed
• Pay a "down payment" before commencement of work that exceeds $1,000 or 10% of the contract price for improvement (whichever is less)

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