Thaw leads to dramatic increase in contractor inquires to BBB; avoid common issues with our do's and don'ts

Buffalo, NY - The numbers don’t lie – Upstate New York went through the coldest and one of the snowiest winters in memory. Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York is taking calls and web inquiries from all over Upstate New York about contractors, roof repairs, plumbing, specialty services and general home improvement needs. In the past few weeks, over 21,000 inquiries were made for these industries online at bbb.org, up from 13,015 for the same time frame in 2014.

“This could become one our busiest home improvement seasons and the last thing we want for people is to get stung by a contractor who lacks experience,” said Warren Clark, president of Better Business Bureau of Upstate New York. “We anticipate that the demand for contractors will continue to be high, and we’ve seen people get burned by ‘fly by night’ scams. We want people to know BBB can and will help at no charge to find trusted businesses through our Business Reviews and our Request a Quote service.”

The “Request a Quote” button is on every Accredited Business Review. It allows anyone who is looking for that particular service to get a quote from that Accredited Business. The service is free and provides quotes, estimates, information or proposals from as many BBB Accredited Businesses that the person wants.

BBB cannot recommend companies; however we do offer Business Reviews with company information and details on customer complaints and consumer reviews.

BBB offers the following do’s and don’ts for anyone considering home repairs this year:

-Make a project plan. Know what you want to tackle and how much you have to spend.

-Check with the BBB. Look up the contractor’s BBB Business Review to answer these questions: Is the business accredited? If it is, the company agreed to uphold the highest standards, respond to any concerns and arbitrate if necessary. If the company is not accredited, make certain they are responsive to any complaints on file. BBB can develop a Business Review if none is found for the company you’re looking for.

-Get a written contract. New York State Law requires that home improvement contracts must be in writing, include a description of the work and materials used. You must receive a copy before work begins.

-Look for red flags. You can avoid being victimized by illegitimate contractors by knowing the common red flags, such as door-to-door solicitations, high pressure sales tactics, ploys such as “a special deal from leftover materials” or that they were “working in your neighborhood,” or a lack of a local business listing, lack of a local phone number or out of town plates on his/her vehicle.

-Don’t forget to get more than one quote. BBB recommends that consumers obtain two or three estimates for their project, and to keep in mind that the three day cooling off rule applies to most home repair contracts. Asking a lot of questions and doing your research to hire the right contractor can make all the difference.

-Never pay up front, don’t pay with cash. BBB recommends the 3-3-3 rule: One third up front, one third at a half-way milestone mark, and one third at the completion of the work. BBB also recommends paying by credit card which offers more protection through your bank. Once your cash is gone, it’s gone.

-Never assume. We all know that old saying and it is true - most items like knowing whether your contractor has the proper insurance, permits, licenses and confirming that your money is safe in an escrow account are details you should research and verify.

-Don’t let emotions rule. Damage to your home or business is upsetting, but letting emotions lead can tend to cloud decision making. BBB recommends you take a step back to consider all of your options and avoid the urgency of your situation become the only factor used in your hiring choice. Unless there’s danger looming, take your time to do your research.

-Don’t sign anything you don’t understand. Written contracts are critical for any job, but if you’re unsure about fine print or any of the project details, ask someone you trust to read them over. You can always ask the company questions, but it’s what’s in writing that can be legally binding should something go wrong — not what someone tells you.

For scam alerts, tips and other information you can trust, visit bbb.org, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.