We found some great tips offer to us by Lennox © on what to watch out for…
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Avoid contractors who say
they “were working in the neighborhood” and noticed some problems with your
home, like driveway cracks or missing roof shingles. Even if there are
problems, don’t allow yourself to be pressured into making immediate repairs.
Watch out for an offer of a “special” that’s good for one day only.
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Ask friends and neighbors
for their recommendations and ask any contractor for the names and contact
information of satisfied customers in your neighborhood. If they won’t give you
a referral, watch out. At Lennox.com, you’ll find a list of highly trained
dealers and contractors in your area. In fact, you’ll find their names listed
at the bottom of every issue of Comfort Matters.
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Some scam artists may
offer to inspect your HVAC system or clean your chimney at a price that
sounds much too good to be true. Once they’ve started, they might claim, for
example, that your chimney is in immediate need of structural repairs and
show you bricks and mortar removed from it as “proof.” If this happens,
contact your local energy utility or a contractor you trust to inspect your
system.
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Watch out for companies
that go door-to-door to find customers. Here’s a flashing warning sign: their
vehicle lists no company name or phone number, or it has out-of-state license
plates. Make sure the contractor can provide a business card and a street
address where the company does business. (It may be the contractor’s home
address, and that’s ok, as some small-business owners work out of their
homes.)
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Ask for proof of
qualifications, such as membership in a professional organization like NATE,
North American Technician Excellence. This is the only national testing and
certification program accepted by the entire HVAC industry.
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Don’t settle for a hasty
price quote to cover a complicated repair. Legitimate contractors won’t
scribble on a scrap of paper: they’ll provide you with a detailed written
quote – breaking out labor and parts costs – after thoroughly examining the
problem. One exception is a small, basic repair which may have a standard
fee.
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While legitimate
contractors may expect a down payment before beginning a job, scam artists
will often insist that you pay in full before they start any project.
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Lennox has more than 6,000
dealers in North America, so there’s probably one near you.
© 2008 Lennox Industries
Inc.
