13 Tips for Avoiding Scams and Cons when Hiring Help

Sometimes we need help keeping up with general yard tasks. Grass cutting can become overwhelming during the summer especially when everyone is working fulltime or extraordinary circumstances such as hospitalization occur. It can be a relief to hire out this work.

Other situations where you might hire help is for gutter cleaning, tree cutting, or debris hauling. Again, good help can relieve the stress and burden of extra property maintenance.

Unfortunately, hiring help can expose you and your family to scams and cons. I recently had a neighbor taken advantage of by a con man who cut her grass while her husband was hospitalized. Long story short, he borrowed her John Deere lawnmower for 2 months, and the authorities had to get involved to recover it. The scary part was that a Craig’s List warning had been posted about this guy. He had borrowed another mower this same growing season and sold it. She was fortunate indeed to have recovered her property.

I have had family members pay for tree cutting and removal after a hurricane. The business was recommended by a neighbor. They took a check and were never seen again.

Below I’ll offer advice on hiring services. More involved projects such as remodeling require licenses and expertise beyond the scope of this article. That said, just because a business has a license, you should still be cautious. Also, it only costs $10 to get hundreds of business cards printed so this is not a job qualification.

1 - Talk to several people to get recommendations. Not just one. Talk to neighbors, coworkers, and friends. Then interview 2 or 3 choices. This is someone you need to trust on your property. As in the example above, not all neighbor recommendations are good. Our neighbor tried to push a tree cutting service on us that absolutely ruined his yard and broke the driveway.

I have used the same gutter cleaning service for 20 years. They are very reputable. Why would a close neighbor hire a gutter cleaner off of Craig's list? (Get recommendations - don't be shy!)

2 - Do not use services that show up on your doorstep.

3 - Do not be pressured by a time-limited, “good deal.”

4 - Google the business and person's name. Ideally Google on different computers and browsers (i.e. Firefox , Internet Explorer, and Chrome) because results will vary. Look for bad reviews.

5 - If you have a bad feeling, don't agree to anything.

6 - Do not pay in advance for any service (even if it's a better deal).

7 - Get itemized receipts for payments. If paying by check, write on the check what services are covered. Keep all contracts, correspondence, cancelled checks, texts etc.

8 - If they claim your check has bounced, call your bank first. (This is a cash shake down.)

9 - They might do good work for awhile to get you off your guard.

10 - Do not loan any equipment or money to someone doing work for you no matter how many hardships they are facing (examples: sick child, broke mower).

11 - A business that brings a young child to the job is not professional, and these children are a safety and liability concern. Ask that they be taken home.

12 - Call the police/sheriff if you need help getting your property returned.

13 - If you are a senior citizen or have a family member sick or in the hospital, be extra aware. You are a target. (Sorry)