Hello all. Hope you are all well. We are back to feeling like winter this morning. It is about 40 degrees cooler this morning than yesterday morning! We sure had the winds and rain yesterday, but nothing like some areas had. There were many tornadoes that touched down north - just so sad to see all the damage.
Talk about a roller coaster of weather - we got it! We have winds of March, April showers, summer storms and winter cold and snow - all in a few days! It is nuts. Sunday we may hit 70* again and by Tuesday morning they are saying lows in the teens!! And SNOW! It is the season of change for sure.
We have wind warnings around for late tonight and tomorrow again - I sure do love calm and pretty days!!! I guess the nasty weather makes us really appreciate the good days.
With damage the scammers come out to prey upon vulnerable folks. It is awful. Some folks will do anything they can in a dishonest fashion to make a buck!! Geesh, if they would work as hard at doing good work it would be wonderful.
Whether you are having repairs made due to weather damage or just doing remodeling - take your time and check people out. Even with storm damage - TAKE YOUR TIME to decide (I know that seems hard to do). People are anxious and scared and worried, and they can make rash decisions.
NEVER pay for a job up front! You have nothing to guarantee they will be back and do the work. Pay in increments, if necessary. Let insurance pay when possible.
ALWAYS check the businesses out. Call the BBB and check on them, call the attorney general, do the work - so you aren't scammed.
I like to use people that family or friends have used - word of mouth. Put the word out and listen to people you know. I would never use someone that just shows up at my door, soliciting business. I love using small family-owned businesses, but I still need to know they can be trusted to do good work.
It is very sad that we have to consider things like things - but there are so many bad people out there. Listen to your inner self and your gut. Listen to people you know. Don't be a victim to anything else.
Common sense is so important.
I hope you all have a lovely day and a super weekend.
Cheryl, your comments are perfectly in sync with what’s been on my mind. Many family-owned businesses that have served my area for years have been sold to new owners. In many cases it’s hard to know there are new owners. This has happened to me several times in the past year. In Florida, there is a way to research company ownership through a state database called Sunbiz but you have to know to look.
ReplyDeleteA/C company began raising prises and upselling product. I did research and sure enough company had been sold. Plumber for my shower had been sold and I didn’t know it. Carpet cleaning company did a fantastic job on carpets at my “new” house but when I used them for the townhouse, not so good. (I did know that this business had new owners.) Most recently I called the roofing company for my townhouse to find out about transferring lifetime labor warranty to new owners. Nope, company founder died in 2024 and new owners don’t honor the warranty. (Shingles are still warranted by manufacturer.)
Yesterday I drove by the funeral home that handled my dad and mom’s funerals. Out of business and building is up for sale. I’m SO glad that I did not buy a pre-need funeral arrangements package for myself which I had considered. Barbara M.
Oh y goodness, that is a lot of things happening. It would be tough to know if it has been sold - without doing a lot of research. Once you trust someone, you think using again would be ok - but maybe not. What a shame.
DeleteOur entire family, for years, has used the same family owned funeral home. I sure hope they are around for many more years - I think they are on their third generation.
Private equity companies are rolling up trades - buying small companies that do plumbing, electric, water..... and then the goal becomes profit at all costs. Our HVAC company (that we've used for 15 years) suddenly started recommending expensive replacements on our furnaces despite the fact that they've serviced them every year and there were not problems detected - a second opinion showed us the opposite - just a small repair. That's what led me to research and I found out about the private equity sale. It's terrible and predatory.
DeleteMy eye doctor practice has been sold to private equity. I’m moving with my ophthalmologist to a private practice even though it is a 30-45 minute drive. Barbara M.
DeleteIt's bad enough to have storm damage, but even worse to be fleeced by a scammer. Gotta be diligent and get referrals from folks you trust. However, a person can't always go by a recommendation by a friend or neighbor. Our neighbor had used a plumbing company that cheated us on a job. She said they liked their work; us, not so much. They were thieves. Years ago, the fellow who owned the house across the street hired a young man to do the renovation work, and that same young man returned the supplies to Lowe's, kept the money and disappeared.
ReplyDeleteThe sun is shining brightly, which is a blessing as it is chilly this morning. I was just getting used to this early spring, which of course doesn't last until later on. My old-fashioned lilac is budding out, and lots of the spring bulbs have bloomed. Sure hate to see them get bit by the upcoming cold temps, but it's too much to cover.
Enjoy your weekend. See you on Sunday!
You are right -nature assaults you - then contractors do the same sometimes. I have been fortunate to have had good luck with people someone recommended. Not that I have much done professionally. Just ticks me off that there are so many dishonest people.
DeleteThe sun is wonderful and the sky is sure blue today. Chilly, but at least it isn't raining or snowing!
I've always thought the same thing about scammers. They put so much time and effort into plotting how to rip people off instead of just good honest hard work.
ReplyDeleteWouldn't the world be a better place? Some work really hard to screw people over - work hard at something good. Win-win.
DeleteI thought I had a repairman, but this spring when I tried to contact him there's been no response. I guess he quit, died, retired, moved. :( Now I get to start all over again trying to find somebody to do the few jobs I need help with. Discouraging. Who to trust? People say, "oh just look on line, you'll find someone". Hmmmph. Sure thing, I'll find "someone" but will it be someone I can trust?
ReplyDeleteI know being older makes me a target for scammers. My phone rings and rings, and the answer machine picks up, but there are no messages left. The answer machine is my friend, my filter that protects me from the world.
MaryB
I agree - the answering machine is our friend. I do NOT ever answer calls for numbers I do not know - 99.9% of the time there is no message left. If it were someone I know - they would leave a message!
DeleteI hear you - I do have a fellow catty corner across the street that helps me some. I always pay - he is just a nice handyman neighbor. The gal across the street has a younger fellow that does stuff for her - and she always tells me I should use him. He creeps me out - something about him I just don't trust and I do worry about her.
I have a couple family members in the small business world, and they know several people - so that helps.
It is kind of scary for us gals!
Sadly there are a lot of scammers out there. You have to be so careful and you are 100% right not to pay them upfront. I've read multiple stories of people who pay upfront and then the workers never show up to do the work. Very, very sad indeed.
ReplyDeleteReally sad there are such people out there preying on people. Yep - never, ever pay up front.
DeleteLots of scammers and they seem to prey on older people. We have been very lucky when doing repairs and renovations. We will never pay upfront, and make sure those we choose are legit.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
You do your homework - that is great. Many just go with the first one that shows up and that is very bad. Being able to do things yourselves is so beneficial.
DeleteWe had a new garage installed a couple years ago. We specifically hired a local guy with his own business. But that's not who showed up to do the install. The guy had hired another guy to do the work. Someone we hadn't vetted. We let him do it and it was fine. But we learned to ask next time "are you doing the work?"
ReplyDeleteWow, that is good advice. I wouldn't have thought of that. Thanks for sharing that.
DeleteI agree, the best businesses to work with are the ones I've had recommendations from family and/or friends. I've used the BBB as well, and have been satisfied as well.
ReplyDeleteSome other points - I know you mentioned not paying in advance. If they ask for funds for materials insist that those materials are delivered to your property, even if they aren't starting the job right away. If it just simply a service, I'd recommend not paying more than 10-25% upfront. Always get an invoice and not just a generic one that says "work done DATE" Ask for a breakdown of the costs of material and hourly or flat rate. Ensure that the invoice includes other details, name of the company, address, e-mail address, telephone number and if applicable, a business registration number. We have Worker's Compensation insurance in our province, and companies registered are required to have WCB coverage. This information is important, should things go wrong - for example someone is hurt on your property or if the work is poorly done or otherwise inadequate, you've got information that you can forward to the appropriate authorities or to make a claim in court.
Sadly, the scammers do come out during times of crises. As you mentioned, it is wise to take your time in selecting those who can do the work the homeowner cannot.
I totally forgot about asking if they are insured. You give excellent advice. Those are wonderful things to remember and do. I agree on having materials delivered to yourself. At least you have that in your possession if something goes wrong.
DeleteThank you for adding great advice.
Down state they had some tornadoes but we were spared. I was glad to see they had law enforcement out blocking their roads and no one could get down them. I was so sad to hear there were deaths. Such a tragedy. We just got rain but now a couple of days later, I bet if I look out my window I would see snow. It's going back and forth and the outcome of it all is mud!
ReplyDeleteSo glad you missed all the really bad stuff. It is very sad, indeed. Yep, lots of mud. We have storms coming in again Sunday evening and snow by Monday morning! Crazy stuff. Glad you are ok.
DeleteIt is really sad how there are people out there that take advantage of uninformed or elderly people. They are the worst of the worst.
ReplyDeleteWe have a huge storm front moving in with 18-24" of snow coming this weekend. Last week we had a couple of days when it hit 60˚ and then the next few days we had highs under 20˚F. I am ready for spring! xo Diana