Nevada State Contractors Board is warning in northern Nevada that with winter weather approaching, there may be travelers looking to scam homeowners.
Hiring only licensed Nevada contractors is the best way for homeowners to protect themselves, as the Contractors Board is able to investigate any complaints into workmanship concerns or related matters up to four years after the date the work was performed. Residents can verify licenses by calling the Board’s Reno office, 775-688-1141 or visiting its website, http://www.nscb.nv.gov, and clicking “License Searches.”
Unlicensed people may approach homeowners working in their yards, gardens, or garages to offer work such as driveway sealing, roof repairs or weatherproofing. While some licensed, reputable contractors may use door-to-door salespeople, homeowners should be wary of such an approach. "They will target people who are out working in their yard or garages and approach them with too good to be true offers," says Scott Smith with the Nevada State Contractors Board.
Other tactics involve high-pressure sales pitches that promise great “today-only” deals using leftover material from a previous or similar job and demands for large cash down payments. "They claim they have materials left over from another job and don't want to return them to the warehouse so they will give them a good deal," explains Smith.
Nevada State Contractors board says these scammers often are driving newer vehicles with no business logos, if you are contacted by someone offering their service the board recommends asking for their Nevada State Contractors License, this is usually a five digit number and easy for them to give out. You can verify the number on the Nevada State Contractors Board website.
These scammers often come into town right before a big storm or after, and sometimes after a natural disaster when people are desperate for a quick fix. "They come out of the woodwork because people are desperate at that time they got structural damage and want to get things fixed and back to normal so they come out and re-victimize people of natural disasters," says Smith.
Sometimes these scammers come in big groups, sometimes with a child asking to use your restroom. "Not only ripping people off by taking money and not doing any work but actually weaseling their way into peoples house and distract the homeowners while their crew ransack the house," explains Smith.
The Board says you should always make sure you understand everything in the contract before signing and never hesitate to have a third party look the contract over on your behalf first. Lastly, the Contractors Board encourages all persons pay with check or credit card to ensure a record of the transaction and to receive the added protections from your financial institutions – paying with cash is never recommended, especially large down payments before any work is performed.
Nevada’s Residential Recovery Fund is one of the best arguments for hiring licensed Nevada contractors. Owners of single-family residences who are harmed by licensed contractors because of poor workmanship or abandoned projects may be eligible to receive up to $35,000 from the Recovery Fund to make needed repairs.
Nevada State Contractors Board contributed to this report
