A disappearing act is great when you’re watching a magic show in Las Vegas.
But it’s not so entertaining when a contractor does it, especially when they are holding a fistful of their money.
That, however, is what is happening all too often in Burnaby.
“My home is a mess,” said Sarah, a North Burnaby resident who gave money to a contractor only to have him not show up one day and then ghost her. “Now I have to find someone else and who can I trust.”
Sarah didn’t want to give her full name because she’s embarrassed. She has sought out help from the Better Business Bureau, which told the NOW that it has received over 50,000 inquiries from consumers about contractors alone in the month of March. Consumers are looking for contractors to help mostly with kitchen, bathroom, deck and fencing renovations. However, with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently announcing a new program that offers Canadians grants of up to $5,000 to pay for energy-saving home upgrades, consumers may now also be considering to upgrade heaters, install solar panels, and replace windows and doors.
“Regardless of the type of project, hiring a reliable and trustworthy contractor is key to getting a professional finish, as well as avoiding shady and fly-by-night contractors,” said the BBB.
Over the last 12 months, consumer reports to BBB show that the top complaints about contractors include:
- being unable to reach the contractor after they have been paid in full, especially if they were paid in cash;
- the contractor disappearing and leaving an incomplete project;
- a poorly completed project;
- disagreements over the verbal contract; and
- the amount on the quotation versus the final bill being significantly different.
“The growing interest for information about contractors shows that this service is clearly top of mind for consumers right now,'' said Karla Laird, Senior Manager for Media & Communications at BBB. “However, as home improvement season comes into full swing, it also means that the risk of engaging with fly-by-night contractors will also increase. Unsolicited contractors showing up at your door with guarantees of a quick job and a great deal might sound like a convenient package, but that is a very common pitch from fraudsters. Now more than ever, it is important to check bbb.org to verify the trustworthiness of a contractor before handing over money.”
To reduce the risk of stumbling into shady and fly-by-night contractors, BBB is sharing the following tips:
- Research and gather information. It is always good to start by finding the contractors that are located near you. However, you can also search for a specific contractor’s Business Profile at BBB.org to get free information on their history of complaints, read verified Customer Reviews, and see if they are an Accredited Business. Also search for the name of the company online along with "Complaint", "Review" or "Scam" to find different results.
- Use BBB’s Get-a-Quote program. Consumers looking for contractors can use this free program to get multiple quotations for their project. BBB submits the consumer’s request to three BBB Accredited Businesses that are randomly selected. Those three companies can then choose to accept or decline the request. If they accept, they will provide a quotation for the customer to review. If they decline, BBB will keep sending the consumer's request to businesses until three have accepted the request and responded. The customer can then review their three quotations and decide which contractor to hire for the job.
- Ask for references. Ask the contractor for a list of recent local references you may contact. Ask the references about the services performed, their overall experience with the contractor and the quality of the work. Also confirm if the contractor stuck to the estimated budget and completion date for the project.
- Discuss the contractor’s COVID-19 safety protocols. Find out what plans are in place to protect workers and people living in the home, including efforts to maintain a six feet distance between workers and regular cleaning of common areas and surfaces, especially with jobs that are likely to go beyond one day. Established contractors will have a comprehensive process in place and will be happy to share this with potential clients.
- Get it in writing. Always get estimates in writing and never let any work begin without a written and signed contract. Be wary of contractors that try to avoid documentation of the job. Do not be pressured into signing an agreement before you are ready and make sure you read and understand everything before signing. The contract should include contact information, start and completion dates, a detailed description of the exact work to be done, any material costs, payment arrangements, warranty information and any verbal promises. Specify who is to obtain necessary building permits and who is responsible for clean-up. Also, never sign an incomplete or partially blank contract.
Also, never pay in full up front. Stagger your payments so that the final amount is due when the work is completed and fully inspected. Be wary of contractors who only want payment in cash or other payment methods that are difficult to trace. Try using a cheque that is written out to the company, or a credit card. Paying with a credit card could provide some recourse should the job not be completed as stated in the contract.
Hopefully these tips will spare you a lot of agony.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
