Don't Fall For These Home Improvement Contractor Sales Tricks

When it comes to finding the right home improvement contractor, there are several things to take into consideration. How long have they been in business? Are they local? Do they have stellar references from previous clients? And do they have the necessary qualifications and experience to carry out the work? However, finding a trustworthy and honorable home improvement contractor can be challenging, especially when there are some home improvement contractors who over promise and under deliver. When choosing the trustworthy home improvement contractor for your next project, you should take heed of the old saying “If it sounds too good to be true, it likely is.” The reality is dishonest salespeople using high-pressure sales tactics to persuade you into purchasing a product or service are common across all industries, including home improvement. Unfortunately avoiding such tricky sales tactics is hard to avoid, however, if you know how to spot them, you are much less likely to hire a dishonest contractor. In this article, we will reveal the three most common sales tricks home improvement contractors use so you do not fall for them when choosing your next home improvement contractor. 

• “Buy Now Before It’s Gone” Deal

If a home improvement contractor is pressuring you into making a decision by saying “buy it now before it’s gone/this is a one-time offer” – be on red alert. If they are pushing you into signing on the dotted line before you are ready in order to secure a “good deal”, run in the other direction. If they say you have 24 hours to decide, it is likely they are trying to unfairly push you into a sale. You should not feel pressured into buying before you are ready. A trustworthy contractor will give you the time you need to make the right decision.

• Bids That Are Too Low 

While no one wants to pay exorbitant fees for a home improvement project, the reality is having work done to your home is rarely a cheap affair. Your home is where you live and is one of your biggest possessions, so it is safe to say quality products and quality work is important. However, it is easy to be attracted to low bids by home improvement contractors who want to win you over as quickly as possible. Quotes that are too low, especially when compared with quotes from other professional home improvement contractors, can be tempting. However, it is in your best interest to be wary of bids like this. As we mentioned, most home improvement projects are quite costly due to the cost of the quality materials, the professional labor required for proper installation and the insurance needed to cover workers and protect contractors and homeowners. If a contractor is offering a low bid, it might mean the entire project scope is not included in the price, or they are using inferior quality products and workmanship which will end up costing you more in the long run.

• Inflated Prices 

On the other side of the coin, you should also be wary of grossly inflated prices. For example, if a home improvement contractor is offering a “half off” your project deal, you have to wonder how they are making any kind of profit. Why would they do this? The answer: they wouldn’t. Such contractors are inflating the price of their goods and services to make up for the huge incentives and discounts they will apply to the final price when they pressure you into signing a contract. This sales tactic works because people feel like they are getting a good “deal” – but the truth is they are getting anything but. 

Beware of Unethical Contractors

The sad but real truth is there are unethical contractors out there who are trying to get a quick sale, at any cost. They might be working uninsured, or with cheap, untrained and poorly supervised laborers. Chances are, these contractors are using your home as a training exercise, or perhaps will return mid-project asking for more money to fix a job they did not do correctly.

It can be difficult to identify such contractors, but by understanding the above tactics and the ways in which unethical contractors use them, you can make sure you do not get fooled. Always make sure you do your due diligence and only engage professional home improvement contractors who have given you multiple references and have a great track record. At the end of the day, what you want is a home improvement project that adds value, efficiency and comfort to your home, all at a fair and honest price.