Taking Time by Rebecca Escott Avoiding Home Repair Scams During the late spring and early summer, many homes in our state were damaged as weird storms ravaged across mountains and down valleys. Now families are tackling the clean-up and repair process. This kind of situation is just the opportunity that home repair scam artists are waiting for! If you home sustained dam ages or is simply in need of rou tine improvements like roof repairs, siding, replacements, driveway surfacing, deck or FOR FREE BROCHURE |/\jy 717-393-1912 Call Toll Free 1-877-814-KIDS CREATING YOUR KIDS WORLD FO* TODAY” Between 10 AM - 7 PM Monday thru Friday Guaranteed Lowest Prices; Many Items To Choose From; Quality Name Brands Available porch repairs, you need to be informed. Crooks know that peo ple are vulnerable after storms have wrecked their homes. They show up with special deals say ing, “I just happen to have some left-over materials from the job I finished just down the street. I could give you a great price 0n...” Don’t even listen to that offer. Say “No thanks,” and shut the door! Here are some other warning signals: the repair person seeks you out instead of you initiating the call to his business, pres sures you for an immediate dteci- Furniture For: * Infants * Youths * Teen sion, the contractor can only be reached by leaving messages with an answering service, con tractor drives unmarked van/truck or has out-of-state plates on his vehicle. Even if it means waiting sev eral days or weeks, be sure to get several detailed estimates from reputable, licensed con tractors. Don’t assume that just because someone advertises in the Yellow Pages that they are reputable or have a valid license. Ask them to see, a license. Ask how long they Have been in business at this location. You may want to ask relatives, your insurance agent or a local claims adjuster for recommen dations. The contractors should have permanent office locations, not a “P. 0.” box or just an answering service. Having professionally printed letterhead is a good sign, but with improvements with technology, a scam artist could make up new letterhead on a computer each day and make fake addresses, too. Just be cautious. Check with your local better UnCUimED FREIGHT CQ LiQiMxrnon soles!^ I —I | 4 DRAWER CHEST I I Pine Finish and Brass Hardware I Reg. Retail $149.95 I Our Cash Price I | $69.95 ! | With Coupon $39.04 SSgP | I ±2J I - (CANTED) FRONT CURIO "| Oak or Cherry Finish - Your Choice • - S Glass Shelves I - Two Doors I - Lighted Interior I • Mirrored Back Reg. Retail $599.95 ■ With Coupon $159.95 | Volume Buy | I - BUNK BEDS m „~| 1 Choose From Sculptured or i I w/Bookcase Headboard. J I j Includes Ladder and safety lp~T^r-j —. —i 1 rails. Bedding Sold IJ ! I Breaks Down To Twin Size 1K?“ Reg. Retail 5599.95 I {>-I*l I Cash Price ~ • 1 $209.95 I “7 —I I GLIDER ROCKER _ f ] | I | Available in Blue, Beige, Green ‘ j ( /H | Reg. Retail 5149.9 S J SjJ ■ With Coupon S *' i jM I I $98.04 1 I _5. _*2_l r r- V r . SOFA W/DUAL“I I RECLINERS I 1 LOVESEAT 1 I Large Selection of Colors To Choose From 1 7 Trailer Loads of Refusals and Closeouts Reg. Retail $2299.95 $799.95 I Our Price | | With Coupon $649*95 #2j r . METAL FLTON~] Whlte/Green/Black ' I W |HL2j£9NjC, with 8" Futon Mattress I Reg Retail $639.95 $259.95 j | ' ~—“4[j With Coupon $159.95 , r ,. t v SECTIONAL ~] I „*",v SLEEPER I I , \ TI r” - - ~—m | Featuring a Loveseat I "V - ' J w/Slde-By-Slde | r s —- . Recliners and Center | ■ 1 ’( Console Plus Sofa i Dealer Refusal Reg . net . u $J 049.95 1 I Our Cash Price _/.v I | With Coupon $889.04 business bureau and consumer protection for complaints/licens ing issues with selected compa ny. Be sure your contractor has proof of insurance for himself and workers in case of injury. Ask each contractor if there is a charge to do an estimate. Some rip-off businesses make their money simply charging people, after the fact, for estimates. Don’t let them in the house unless you are willing to pay for the estimate at the stated rate. Most reputable companies pro vide estimates free of charge. After you have received the estimates, review them. Don’t necessarily select the lowest bid der. Ask for explanations about the difference in charges. Discuss payment policies. The contractor should ask for no more than one-third of the total price up front. Insist on a complete, detailed written contract of work, includ ing the quality of materials and timetable, total price, payment schedule. If the repair is a long one, or the estimate is compli cated and includes subcontrac tors, you may want to have an unsigned copy of the contract reviewed by a lawyer to make sure you are protected if the I 1 I 5 DRAWER CHEST I | Maple Finish I | j Reg. Price $339.95 r - I I Cash Price $59.95 CM 1 Closeout i & Easy to Assemble # 2j Lancaster Farming, Saturday, July 25, 1998-BS work is not done as stated. You can always ask for names of previous customers. If you want confirmation of a compa ny’s quality of work, visit a com pleted job and talk with the cus tomer about his or her experi ence with the contractor you are considering. If you sign the repair contract in your home or at a location that is not the seller’s perma nent place of business, you have three business days to change your mind and cancel the con tract. Be sure the salesperson dates the signed contract and give you two copies of the can cellation form. Certainly avoid salespeople who required payment in full in advance. When you do pay, pav by check or credit card, not with cash. Heavy storm damage is not the only thing that brings home repair scam artists out of the wood work, they target senior citizens and low-income home owners year-round. Anytime you invest your hard-earned money in home repair or improvement, be sure to do your homework and proceed with caution in order to get quality work at a fair price. [sofa & LOVESEAT CLOSEOUT 1 ) | Fairview Arbor | „ CLOSEOUT PRICE I I Reg Ret CASH PRICE * _ _ _ _ I | !595;95 #2j i 7p“~n | RECLINER CLOSEOUT U /7j\ I Available In Four Color* f ' I Reg. Retail $689.95 6T\l /uJ I j Our Cash Price $299.95 j 1 wmt I I cowm *259.95x3^/,,1 i .2hr___j [~FULTON SOFA 8t CHAIR CLOSEOUT^ ■ White, Green, Black Comes w lt" Futon Mattress & ■ Chair Mattress J I Reg. Retail $989.95 I I llflftl L| I - Our Low Price $479.95 | | BIG SELECTION OF WOOD ft METAL BUNK BEDS 3019 H«mpl«nd Road, L«nc«at«r 397-6241 /” Wo art a tour ttora chain not affiliated with any other atoroa\ Sloroa in LANCASTER • YORK • CARLISLE PA • ELKTON MD LANCASTER STORE HOURS Mon Fri 9-9 • Sat 96*§un Noon 5 • No Nttundl mmm . No Kwhoogo* For purchooot with • chock bring FINANCMQ « __ • No CacftanfO* Onvorm iictnH «M phono numOoro AVAILAILI . ® * • C*ih A Carry .
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers