A major threat to the public that many are not aware of are rogue house builders. Even with the government's assistance through organizations like the National Builders Association, you can still fall prey to rogue home building companies. Oftentimes, a rogue house builder solicits door to door, trying to convince an unsuspecting homeowner that there is a serious problem with things such as the foundation, the roof or other areas of the house that are hard to see or get to. To help you avoid these con artists, here are a few tips to remember.
In the scenario above, where someone comes to your door telling you that you have a serious problem with some aspect of your home, particularly parts that are hard to see or difficult to get to, and that you must take care of the issue now before calamity strikes, should tip you off that they are not a legitimate house builder. Those kinds of issues that they are referring to would require a thorough inspection, usually involving a technician to look both inside and outside of the home, which would call for your permission to do so. If faced with this situation, simply say that you do not purchase services at the door and that you would want to get a second opinion from a company of your choosing.
Another tip to help you evade doing business with a rogue house builder is to make sure that when working with a company, they are willing to put into writing any contracts or dealings between you and them. It is also advisable that you only work with companies that will provide you with their address and have a number of different references for you to check on. If a company does not offer you these terms, this could be a red flag that they are not a legal business.
Probably the biggest piece of advice that can be given on this subject is to by no means pay the full amount owed before the work is finished. This still holds true even if you are told the money is needed for materials. Usually, a sort of payment plan is arranged during the initial meetings between you and the house builder company. They may require a steady cash flow to cover business payments to workers on your project, but this can be done in installments with a set amount, due on set dates that were pre-arranged with you. Also be wary if the company wants to be paid strictly in cash; with cash, there is no way to track it and no way to protect you from loss. You should make payments through bank transfers, wires, cashier's checks and with credit cards so that you have a record of the transaction and you can see who and where the money goes to.
While this threat is real and more common than most might realize, by being informed and remembering these few tips, you can protect yourself from a rogue house builder. There are plenty of genuine builder companies out there, you just need to be smart in your selection and do your research first.
