The pollen has arrived, the flowers have begun blooming and professional and amateur landscapers alike are gearing for the best time of the year: spring! However, for few, this time of year could also mean getting scammed. As the warmer temperatures arrive, so do the scammers, offering promises of manicured lawns, new hardscaping and/or a complete redesign using pavers and stone.
(Note: We at JK Enterprise Landscaping Supply want all of our clients, customers and friends to be aware of what’s going on in the news of landscaping and report this solely for the purpose of information to help benefit our clientele and educate those in the community)
For example, two years ago, a West Virginia native became a victim of a home improvement scam. He paid $1,000 to turn an old swimming pool into a pond and wound up with a messy hole in the ground. The victim found All-4-You Landscaping in the phone book and thought it looked legit, but realized too late he’d been ripped off in a home improvement scam — something the Attorney General’s office sees all too often when springtime rolls around.
Experts say the key is to do a little homework. That means checking out a contractor’s credentials, including whether they have a contractor’s license. Also, expect a written contract for any job more than $250. And, the cardinal rule: don’t pay upfront.
And we at JK Enterprise Landscaping Supply could not agree more. Always investigated each company selected to do business with, never pay anything upfront and when in doubt ask questions. Spring should be about enjoying the warmer weather, spending longer hours outside, gardening and landscaping–not about losing money over landscaping and spending time dealing with the Attorney General!
