Having your driveway or pavement paved needs you to make several decisions. A few of these include when you’re going to want to do it, how much budget you’re willing to have for the project, and how big the paving project is going to be. However, these are not the most important questions that need to be asked.
Two of the most important things you need to ask is who you’re going to hire for the paving project, and if they’re going to try a paving scam on you or not.
Paving Scams in a Nutshell and How to Avoid Them
Paving scams are a huge pain to deal with, both before and after you hire the scammers for your paving project. Not only will they try their best to do the bare minimum when it comes to paving your pavement or driveway, but they will also be very difficult to catch once you’ve parted ways. They do just enough so your driveway looks fine, but the result of their work will often mean you’ll have to hire a more reputable paver not long after they’re gone. So we’re here to help you identify these scam pavers so you can have a long lasting pavement.
Be Wary of any Door to Door Pavers
One of the biggest red flags of a scam paver is that a scam paver will often approach you first. These “door to door” pavers will often try to convince you to have them pave your driveway at a very enticing cost. The low price they dangle in front of their potential victims is one of the most common tricks under a scammer’s sleeves. If it sounds too good to be true, then it very likely is.
Always Ask for A Contract
A great way to avoid getting scammed by any paver is to ask for a contract before paving even starts. Remember, contracts are meant to protect both parties and not just the paver offering it. Reputable pavers will almost never hesitate to sign a contract with you. If the paver you’re speaking to is hesitant to sign a contract up front, then it might be in your best interest to look for a paver somewhere else.
Check The Paver’s Portfolio
A great way to identify if a paver is reputable or not is to check their history. Reputable and professional paving companies often have a long list of projects that they’ve completed. Projects that you yourself can check to see just how well done the project was handled. Just remember, paving scammers will often try to pass off the work of other paving companies as their own so it’s best if you double check if the project was really done by them. Catching a lying paver is a big red flag of an incoming paving scam.
Watch Out For Pavers that Come From Out of Town
Another common sign of a paving scam is that a paver that is from out of town is at your doorstep. You can certainly hire an out of town paver, however, most pavers will only operate within the area of their physical office. And most won’t go out of their way to send a team to another town just to canvas for additional jobs.
Final Thoughts
Paving scams are far and in between a normal person’s life. However, they’re a major headache when you do encounter one. We hope that this list can help you spot these scams before you become a victim.