Home repair and improvement scams flourish in warm weather, following severe weather, and after anatural disaster. Unscrupulous, unlicensed, and unqualified out of state contractors are all too eager totake advantage of unsuspecting homeowners.
Many of these "storm chaser" contractors misrepresent their true business reputations, skill levels, andcompletion dates. Often they obtain temporary office locations in Minnesota so they can advertise as alocal business, then offer work guarantees that immediately become worthless when the contractor skips town after the work is completed. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
If the contractor is not a local business, or has just setup office, ask when the company has first setup office in Minnesota. And check the phone directory for a business listing
How high is their license #? (The lower the number, the longer they've been in business, plus more experience)
Research your project, so that you have an idea of what will be involved
Make sure your potential contractor is licensed, and insured
Compare bids, and check to see that each contractor is bidding on the exact same set of specifications. Less reputable contractors may cut corners to achieve a lower bid
