Spring Home Improvement Scam Alerts
Key Questions
What are common spring home improvement scams to watch for?
Common scams include unsolicited door-to-door offers for roof repairs, driveway sealcoating, lawn care, and landscaping. Examples involve Amarillo PD reports of fake permits using Venmo/Zelle payments and Marco Island FL builder scams causing $300k-$1M losses with liens and investigations. BBB and CSLB warn of these cons during seasonal renovation surges.
What red flags indicate a potential home improvement scam?
Red flags include unsolicited door-knocks, demands for cash payments, more than 10% down payment, and hiring unqualified workers. Stories highlight neighbors falling for cheap sealcoating quotes that lead to poor long-term results. Always vet contractors via BBB.org.
How can homeowners protect themselves from home improvement scams?
Vet contractors on BBB.org, insist on written contracts, and use credit cards for payments to enable disputes. Avoid cheapest quotes which often cost more long-term due to shoddy work. This protects tight DIY budgets amid spring project demands.
BBB/CSLB warnings on roofs/driveway sealcoat/lawn/landscaping cons, red flags (unsolicited door-knocks/cash/>10% down, unqualified hires); Amarillo PD fake permits Venmo/Zelle; Marco Island FL builder scams $300k-$1M losses, liens/probes. Urges BBB.org vetting/written contracts/credit cards to protect tight DIY budgets amid seasonal reno surge.