Tag Archive for second opinion

Kate Miller | September 7, 2011
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Make Your Contractor Fight for Your Business

 If you are one of the many homeowners that are currently looking for a new HVAC system you may feel like it is you against the HVAC contractor that diagnosed your unit as faulty. It would be easy to simply take them at their word and replace the system with whatever they have to offer, but wouldn’t you rather take control of the sale? Well, you can. All you have to do is get a few estimates. Many homeowners don’t want to bother with the hassle of having 3 different companies out for an estimate on a new furnace or air conditioning system, but not doing so could cost your hundreds and maybe even thousands of dollars.

Taking Advantage of a Desperate Situation

The first way you loose money by not getting multiple estimates is by purchasing the unit right off the bat from the company that diagnosed the system as faulty. Many times the unit breaks down when we need it most and in our desperation for comfort we may agree to anything. Some companies will take advantage of this desperation and do little to nothing to save you money on your system. Instead, step back, take a breath, and give it some thought. Don’t jump into a sale without assessing all of your options. Read more

Category: Air Conditioning, Consumer Protection, Contractors, Heating, Money Saving | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | June 29, 2011
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Home Inspections and Second Opinions

This summer, a good friend of mine and his wife thought that they had found their dream home. They bought a home that had been repossessed by the bank, then purchased, and remodeled by a rehab contractor. The house was beautiful. The kitchen had granite counter tops with complementing back splashes. All of the floors were hardwood with matching woodwork. On the surface this was the perfect dream house that they had been looking for, for months!

The Original Inspection

When buying a home, the mortgage company is going to want the home inspected before they hand over a penny. The lender that my friends used had their own home inspector go through the house and give the “thumbs up” before they would approve the loan. The loan was approved, and my friends became the proud owners of their first home. Read more

Category: Air Conditioning, Consumer Protection, Contractors | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | February 23, 2011
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A Second Look Could Save Thousands!

Many homeowners find out the hard way that they should have gotten a second opinion on a repair job, and a recent case in Minneapolis brought this fact into the limelight. The case involved a plumbing company that was convincing homeowners they needed much bigger, and more expensive, repairs than were actually required. The end result was the loss of thousands of dollars and another black eye for the home repair industry. However, homeowners do not have to put up with this type of contractor if they know what to look for when they need a repair, and the number one rule is ALWAYS GET A SECOND OPINION! Signing a contract and handing over a check could be the biggest mistakes you ever make if you are not careful about whom you hire to perform the repairs. Read more

Category: Consumer Protection, Contractors, Home Repairs, Money Saving | Tags: , , , , , , , ,
Kate Miller | January 10, 2011
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Protect Yourself from Furnace Repair Scams

Successful scam artists are some of the best actors in town. They are equipped with the props and costumes that a legitimate company would have, and their performance is very convincing. Thousands of homeowners fall victim to their act, and end up handing over hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars for services that are illegitimate. The furnace repair industry has its fair share of fraudsters just like any other, but when homeowners know how to protect themselves from their scams, they lose their ability turn a profit. That is why we should all take note of these 3 common furnace repair scams before we have our furnaces serviced this winter season.

  • Scam #1: Demanding Upfront Payment- A common scam that many illegitimate contractors will use involves convincing the homeowner to pay in full for services before they are performed. The serviceman may tell you that he needs a certain amount of money right when he walks in the door, and then after tinkering around with the furnace, demand payment for repairs before actually fixing anything. Once payment is received, the serviceman will pretend that they have to order a part or come back later to finish the work. After the serviceman leaves, he is never heard from again. Read more
Category: Consumer Protection, Contractors, Furnace, Money Saving | Tags: , , , , , , , , , ,