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Ten Ways to Protect Yourself from Home Repair Scams

1)  Do not pay a large advance payment in cash 

2)  Do not use a contractor who drives a vehicle with little or no identification or has business cards without a street address.

3) Be cautious when someone arrives at your door uninvited with a special repair deal or has materials left over from “another job”.

4) Be careful if the business does not list a number in the local telephone directory.

5) Beware of contractors that ask you to get building permits.

6) Only use contractors licensed and registered with the state. 

7) Your contractor should have personal liability, worker compensation and property damage coverage.  Ask to see copies of all licenses and proof of insurance.

8) Ask for a list of references and then check them out.  Visit the references’ home to see work done.  Ask them if the work was done on time, on budget, and did the contractor clean up after construction.

9) Call Consumer Fraud at Consumer Affairs  at  406-444-3553 if you have questions or want more  information on current home repair scams.

10) If it sounds to good to be true, it probably is!