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Take the time to exam If it is or isn't a scam If it seems to good to be true They maybe trying to rip off you And Knowing this keeps you out of jams.
Black homeowners are the
target of more home repair scams, rip-offs and schemes than any other
race by far.
Many reasons can
contribute to this but one of the biggest reasons comes from the
appearance of saving money.
Many black homeowners
suffer from financial problems and those problems compound themselves
when the home is in need of many overdue repairs or fix-ups.
This is when the scam
artist, predatory lending sharks and home repair schemers come out and
prey on many black and especially elderly homeowners. Of course, they
first appeal to the money savings.
Here are a few of the ways
many scams take place. Read them carefully and take heed.
1. I Just Happen To Be In the Area Scam. You may receive a knock on
your door by a man dressed in handyman's clothes in a pick-up truck. He
says, "He just happens to be working in the neighborhood and he has
materials left over from another job.
He'll offer to do some
work for a too large-to-pass-up discount. This is often too tempting
for many black homeowners to resist. Many make the mistake of paying
the man up-front and they never finish the job or do a shoddy job.
2. I Have A Special Offer Only Good For Today Scam. When it comes to a
remodeling project, any time a contractor puts pressure on you to act
quickly should cause a red flag to go up in your head.
Anytime you decide to
remodel your home you should make your decision carefully and at your
own pace.
Never allow anyone to
pressure you before you have time to make an intelligent and informed
decision.
3. Driveway and Roof Sealant Scams. This is where a contractor
offers to seal your driveway or roof for a heavily discounted price.
These people come out in the late fall or early winter before the rainy
season.
But what they don't tell
you is they often use cheap substances that wear off months or weeks
later. You never know until the first heavy rains come.
4. The I Can Help You Finance The Home Improvement Scam. This contractor will take
advantage of many financially strapped black homeowners.
They'll often overcharge
them on the estimate but offer to get them financed with a lender they
know.
Often the contractor gets
a kick-back or commission from the lender who also rips off the
homeowner with excessive interest and other fees.
These are just a few of
the sneaky scams many contractors use to rip off black homeowners,
especially the elderly on fixed incomes.
The best way to avoid
these kinds of rip-offs is to take the time to check them out. Avoid
the temptation to gamble on there honesty and integrity for the chance
to save a few dollars.
If you're in so big of a
hurry you don't have time to check there references with anyone, you
could be asking for trouble.
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Copyright
© MMVII, Black Homeowner News, Inc. |
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