Other LanguagesEach year when the weather turns nice, itinerant crews of roofers, pavers and day laborers travel from city to city, driving through neighborhoods and mobile home parks looking for victims. Sometimes they “offer” to pave your driveway, repair your roof, or paint your house with supplies “left over” from another job.
This is just a scam. The repair work is completed very quickly, the quality is poor, and the “repairs” usually cost more than the original estimate.
Warning Signs:
- The repairperson drives an unmarked truck or van with an out-of-state license;
- The worker has no business identification, local address or telephone number;
- You are offered a “special price” if you sign today;
- The worker wants upfront cost or fees, or accepts only cash;
- No written estimates or contracts are provided;
- The worker does not have any references;
- The offer sounds “too good to be true.”
Generally, work that “adds to or subtracts from real estate” requires a registered contractor. Businesses that provide services such as gutter cleaning, pruning, lawn care or window washing do not need to be registered.
If you are planning to hire a contractor, make sure the contractor is registered and bonded. Check the contractor’s references, and solicit several written bids. For more information about what you should know when working with a contractor, visit www.atg.wa.gov/contractors.