If you’re thinking about getting your home’s exterior walls plastered, beware of scammers who may try to take advantage of you. There have been reports of unscrupulous individuals posing as plastering contractors to get money from unsuspecting homeowners. They go door-to-door, offering their services to unsuspecting homeowners. They may even give you a low estimate to get you to hire them on the spot.
Here’s how the scam works: someone posing as a professional plasterer will contact homeowners and offer to do a job for a very low price. This is one common scam wherein a contractor offers to do the work for a low price, but then uses substandard materials or does a poor job. The result is an inferior finish that will need to be fixed, costing you more in the long run.
They may even say that they’ll do it for free. However, once they’ve started the job, they’ll start to find all sorts of problems that need to be fixed. These “problems” will end up costing you a lot of money.
In some cases, the person doing the plastering may even damage your property intentionally so that they can get more money from you. The con artists will then demand more money to finish the job, often threatening legal action if the homeowner doesn’t pay up.
Another scam involves contractors asking for payment upfront before any work has been done. Once they have your money, they may disappear without doing the job or do a shoddy job and refuse to rectify it.
Unfortunately, many people fall for this scam every year. The con artists take the money and disappear, leaving the homeowners with an unfinished job and a bill for thousands of dollars.
Here are some tips to avoid becoming a victim of a plastering scam:
1. Do Some Research
Research potential contractors before hiring anyone. Check references and review their portfolios to make sure they’re qualified to do the job. Some unscrupulous individuals pose as professional plasterers, but they’re unqualified and inexperienced. They may tell you that they can do a great job for a very low price, but in reality, they’ll do a shoddy job that will cost you more to fix in the long run.
To avoid being scammed, only hire reputable contractors who are properly qualified and insured.
2. Get Multiple Estimates
Get multiple estimates before selecting a contractor. This will help you compare prices and find the best value for your project. Don’t be tempted to go with the cheapest option. If someone arrives at your door offering to do the work for a significantly lower price, be wary and do not let them start the job.
3. Don’t Pay For The Job Upfront
Don’t pay for the entire job upfront. A reputable contractor will not require full payment until the work is completed to your satisfaction.
4. Be Cautious On Door-To-Door Soliciting Business
Be cautious of contractors who go door-to-door soliciting business. If someone approaches you out of the blue, they may be more likely to be a scammer.
5. Consider Getting An Insurance
Homeowners should also be aware of the possibility of damage to their property during the plastering process. While most reputable tradespeople will take care to avoid damage, there is always a risk that something could go wrong. If you are concerned about this, you may want to consider getting insurance to cover any potential damage.
Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t let yourself be scammed – only hire reputable, qualified contractors for your plastering needs. Visit the website.
If you think you may have been the victim of a plastering scam, contact your local law enforcement agency to file a report.