2 Princeton Residents Were Victims Of Home Improvement Scams

PRINCETON, NJ — Two Princeton residents were victims of a home improvement scam after they paid a total of about $23,000 for work that was never completed, police said.

On Sept. 4 a Princeton Avenue resident said they paid "Driveways and Patios by Design" $19,500 on July 29 to complete work on their home. The company reportedly only completed $9,000 worth of work and have been unable to be reached since Aug. 15, according to the police report.

On the same day a Bainbridge Street resident also said they paid "Driveways and Patios by Design" $4,00 on Aug. 3 to complete work on their home. The company reportedly did not complete the work and have been unable to be reached since Aug. 15, police said.

Princeton Police sent out an alert to residents on Sept. 5 warning them of home improvement scams.

The scam works like this, people posing as contractors offer residents great deals on home improvement work that can be done "right away" as long as the payment (generally in cash) is paid up front. The scammer then disappears with the money, Princeton Police said.

Police offered a list of tips from the Better Business Bureau to protect yourself:

"Home improvement scams can start with a knock on the door, a flyer, an ad. The contractor may offer a low price or a short time frame. One common hook is when the scammer claims to be working in your neighborhood on another project and has leftover supplies."

• Watch out for "red flags." Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, high upfront payments, handshake deals without a contract, and on-site inspections. Not all "storm chasers" are con artists, but enough are that you should be cautious any time a home contractor contacts you first… especially after a natural disaster.
• Ask for references and check them out. Bad contractors will be reluctant to share this information and scammers won’t wait for you to do your homework. If you can, get references from past customers, both older references to check on the quality of the work and newer references to make sure current employees are up to the task. Check them out at bbb.org to see what other customers have experienced. And always be sure to get a written contract with the price, materials and timeline. The more detail, the better.
• Know the law. Work with local businesses that have proper identification, licensing and insurance. Confirm that your vendor will get related permits and make sure you know who is responsible for what according to your local laws and that your vendor is ready to comply.

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