You’ve found the perfect lot for your new backyard oasis and hired a landscaping contractor to build it. Unfortunately, that’s when things can go wrong. Unfortunately, scammers are out to take advantage of unsuspecting landscapers and contractors who don’t know the first thing about how to properly build a yard. Fortunately, there are some simple ways to avoid falling prey to these types of contractors. Read on for advice on how to avoid getting scammed by a landscaper.
The first thing to do is to have a written contract. This may seem like a no-brainer, but it’s surprising how many people skip this step when hiring a landscaper. A contract should include a description of the project, the scope of work, the start and end dates, the payment schedule, and a clause stating that the contractor will be responsible for any damages to your property as a result of the project. You should also include a clause that requires the contractor to obtain a permit for any work that requires them to dig or build on wetlands or other areas that require special permits.Finally, make sure that the contract also has a clause that states that any changes to the contract must be in writing and signed by both parties.
Before you sign a contract with any landscaping contractor, you should check out their references and find out if they’ve done work for other people in your area. You can do this by looking them up online or by calling the city or county and asking who they use for landscaping work. If you find a landscaper whose work you like and whose references check out, you’re probably in good shape. However, if you find a landscaper whose work you like but whose references check out, there’s a good chance that they’re running a scam.The reason why this is true is because scammers tend to hire people who don’t have any experience. If a contractor has no experience, they have no one to call for help when they have problems.
Another thing to look out for when hiring a landscaper is a contractor who wants you to pay for the work up front. This is a surefire way to get scammed. Contractors who ask for payment up front are probably scammers. Why? Because landscapers who do good work typically get paid as the work progresses, not all at once. Landscapers who want all of their money up front are usually scammers who have a bad credit history and need the money up front to avoid getting stuck with a bad loan.If a contractor asks for payment up front, politely decline.
Another thing to look out for is ‘clean’ work that looks like it belongs to a contractor. Sometimes, contractors will bring in ‘clean’ workers to work on the ‘scummy’ side of the project without telling their clients. This is called ‘phoenixing’ or ‘phoenixing out of the ashes’. The ‘clean’ workers will then disappear, leaving the ‘scummy’ workers to finish the job. If you see ‘clean’ work that looks like it belongs to a contractor, ask to see the ‘scummy’ side of the job.If you do find ‘clean’ work that belongs to a contractor, ask to see the ‘scummy’ side of the job. If the ‘clean’ side of the job looks like it was done by highly trained professionals, it’s probably legit.
Finally, you should ask for a written warranty and estimate for future work. This is something that all reputable landscapers will provide. If the landscaper you hired doesn’t provide a written warranty and estimate for future work, that’s a sign of a scammer. A landscaper who doesn’t provide these things is trying to get as much money out of you as possible without providing a high-quality job.If the landscaper you hired doesn’t provide a written warranty and estimate for future work, politely decline and find someone else.
The landscaping industry is filled with scammers who look to take advantage of unsuspecting landscapers and contractors. Unfortunately, there’s not much you can do to avoid getting scammed. However, there are some simple things that you can do to avoid falling prey to these types of contractors. First, have a written contract. This will help you to avoid getting scammed. Second, check the contractor’s references. This will help you to avoid getting scammed. Finally, don’t pay up front, don’t trust ‘clean’ work that looks like it came from a contractor, and ask for a written warranty and estimate for future work.