A contractor takes a large deposit, tears into a roof or bathroom, and then suddenly stops returning calls. For an older homeowner, realizing that a repair project may actually be a home-repair scam can be financially frightening, especially when thousands of dollars or the safety of the home is at stake. The Federal Trade Commission’s home-repair scam guidance warns that dishonest operators may take money without completing repairs, perform shoddy work, or steer homeowners into harmful financing agreements. Home-repair fraud is also specifically identified by the FBI as a scam affecting older Americans, making careful documentation particularly important.
If you suspect fraud, start preserving evidence immediately, but don’t delay contacting your bank, card issuer, financing company, or law enforcement simply because your documentation isn’t complete. You can continue building the paper trail while the report is already underway. Here’s a look at seven things every homeowner should document.
