With the upcoming nice weather, BC residents may be inclined to accept offers to renovate their homes or build a new deck from contractors who “just happen to be in the neighbourhood” working on somebody else’s house.

There are many legitimate contractors and renovation businesses who engage in fair business practices, unfortunately fraudsters often use the home renovation premise to scam unsuspecting victims. The following tips are designed to protect you from being taken advantage of by scam artists.

Don’t give in to high-pressure sales tactics:

• If you are not interested, do not let a door to door salesperson in to your house.
• If you want them to leave, be firm and ask them to leave.
• A legitimate contractor won’t pressure a consumer into a sale so if an individual comes to your door selling their home renovation services, don’t be reactive.

Know who you are doing business with:

• Get three quotes before choosing a contractor. Ask for and check references.
• Contact the local Better Business Bureau to inquire about the business you may be hiring.
• By allowing someone you don’t know to do a job for you, you may be opening yourself up to potential scams. Do your research and be a smart consumer.

Read the contracts and keep your receipts:

• Always ask for a contract in writing and read it in full before signing.
• Ensure the contract includes an itemized list of each task that needs to be completed.
• Make your cheques out to the company, not an individual.
• If you do buy something, get a receipt and keep copies of all paperwork including cancelled cheques.
• Find out about your cancellation rights – you may have 10 days to cancel the contract.

Consumer Protection BC has opened files based on tips from individuals who were worried that their elderly neighbours were being taken advantage of by a home renovator. If you are concerned that this is happening to one of your neighbours, ask them respectfully how their renovations are going.

For more information about contract requirements and consumer cancellation rights or to register a complaint about door-to-door sales or potentially deceptive acts, contact Consumer Protection BC at 1-888-564-9963 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Consumer Protection BC can also provide information about consumer rights and the responsibilities of businesses.