As home improvement projects pick up during the warmer months, Village of St. Paris Administrator Jay Lewis is reminding residents to take precautions when hiring contractors.
Lewis noted that while most contractors are honest professionals, home improvement and construction scams tend to increase during the spring and summer construction season.
Residents are encouraged to be wary of contractors who show up unexpectedly offering services, claim to have leftover materials from another job, pressure homeowners into making immediate decisions, request large upfront payments, refuse to provide proof of insurance or references, decline to provide written estimates or contracts, or insist on cash-only payments.
Before hiring a contractor, residents are advised to obtain multiple written estimates, check references and previous work, verify insurance coverage, carefully review contracts before signing, avoid paying the full project cost upfront, and keep copies of contracts, receipts, and correspondence.
According to Lewis, reputable contractors should be willing to answer questions and provide documentation supporting their qualifications. Taking extra time to research and verify a contractor can help protect homeowners from financial loss and ensure projects are completed properly.
Anyone who believes they may have been the victim of a scam is encouraged to contact local law enforcement and file a report with the Ohio Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Section.
Lewis thanked residents for helping keep the community informed, safe, and protected.
