Last year, there were more than 300 complaints and almost 115,000 inquiries about asphalt paving contractors nationally. Locally, your BBB recorded more than 1,500 inquiries about this industry.
Your BBB advises homeowners take time choosing asphalt paving contractors they can trust and offers a few tips:
• Consider a company’s reputation and years of service.
• Shop around and get several quotes. Don’t settle for the lowest bid.
• Check with family and friends. If they’re happy with a company they used, most likely you’ll be too.
• Visit home shows to meet contractors face-to-face.
• Get a written contract with details of all the work to be completed. Don’t sign anything until all blanks are completed. Get verbal promises in writing. And, make sure warranties and guarantees are covered in the contract.
• Never pay up front. A legitimate, trustworthy company won’t do business that way. Also, beware of someone asking for cash only. Reputable contractors take checks or credit cards and don’t require cash-only terms.
• Avoid a contractor asking you to get required permits or none at all.
• Don’t be intimidated by a contractor pressuring you into making a quick decision.
• Be wary of people in unmarked vehicles or going door-to-door. Also, look at the license plate of the vehicle. If it’s an out-of-state license plate, it may be a scam.
• Make sure the company is licensed, bonded and insured as appropriate.
• Avoid deals that seem too-good-to-be true. If the quoted price seems very low, chances are the quality of the work will be poor.
• Ask questions and do your research. Don’t be afraid to inquire about something you don’t understand.
Remember, be wary of people going door-to-door. They may try to tell you about problems they’ve noticed with your driveway. They may say they have leftover material from another job and can do work for you at a low price. However, professional asphalt contractors will know how much paving material is needed to complete a project. They won’t have enough leftover material to do a second job.
If you have any questions about asphalt paving contractors, get help from your BBB, such as a list of BBB Accredited asphalt paving contractors and Business Reviews on ones you’re considering. Visit www.bbb.org or call (937) 222-5825 or (800) 776-5301.
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