Home & Yard Handbook

Carmen Santora, Executive Director of the Better Contractors Bureau is warning consumers contemplating having their driveway sealed that there are contractors presently in our area from out of state using unscrupulous tactics when sealing driveways.

Santora says, “The usual rule of thumb when sealer is mixed is, for every 100 gallons of sealer 30-40 gallons of water should be added. The scam artists are doing it the opposite and in some cases we have been told that some are mixing as little as 10 gallons of sealer to 100 gallons of water.” In reality all you’re getting is black, colored water that will wash off with a rain.

In one such case a caller complained (wouldn’t give his name) and said that the contractor he went with practically was chasing the sealer down the drive way, that’s how much water was in the mix. He said he went strictly on price and he should have known better when he paid $39.00 after getting two other estimates for $89.00 and $99.00. He also forgot that when he did his driveway himself a few years back that it took 4 five gallons pails at approximately $15.00 each and along with having to buy a broom/squeegee the cost to do it then was $65.00 for materials only.

Consumers should watch out for special so called deals and especially watch for out of state license plates and don’t fall for the line, “I’ve got some sealer left over and can give you a really good price”. 

Remember, a good driveway sealer contractor will blow off the entire driveway, use a weed eater on the edges, cover the sidewalk between the truck and driveway to prevent accidental spillage from a storage tank and barricade the entrance when finished. 

Contractors should also carry liability insurance in case of damage to your property, such as over splash on your overhead garage door or siding. Remember, the old saying “you get what you pay for” really applies with driveway sealing. For a recommendation of BCB driveway sealers you can call the office at 585-338-3600 or go to the BCB website at www.the-bcb.net.  

Carmen Santora is the Executive Director for the Better Contractors Bureau.  The BCB is a non-profit consumer protection agency established in 1974 to be of assistance to the homeowner.  Its goals are to “protect & inform” the consumer, eliminate unscrupulous contractors, and upgrade the image of the home improvement industry.

Now that spring is here the unscrupulous, fly-by-night contractors will shortly follow. “They will descend on the area like the returning geese from the south each year”, said Carmen Santora, Executive Director. Along with their return, will be the problems that they bring to unsuspecting homeowners contemplating a remodeling project for their home.

The Better Contractors Bureau, (B.C.B. as it is known) a thirty year old, non profit consumer protection agency operating in Monroe and the five surrounding counties would like to help to prevent most problems consumers will face by offering the following guidelines when dealing with a home improvement contractor:

• Always obtain three written estimates from similar size companies. More will confuse you!
• Check out the contractor’s reputation and complaint record with the Better Contractors Bureau.
• Check to be sure that the contractor carries the proper liability & workmen’s comp insurance.
• Make sure the contractor’s contract contains all the requirements under Article 36A of the NYS Business law. (Call the Attorney General’s office at 327-3240 and ask for a copy of the “Home Improvement Fact Sheet” to be sent to you.
• Never give large down payments unless specialty items are needed for your project.
• Never fall for the gimmick that your house will be used as “demonstration”.
• Rule the contractor out that uses “high pressure” tactics to get you to sign a contract immediately.
• Be cautious of the contractor who comes to your door unsolicited, especially if they tell you that they have left over material and can give you a terrific deal if you sign now!
• Don’t fall for the false claim that a particular contractor will be giving you an exceptionally long guarantee. One-year labor guarantee is usually the rule of thumb in the area.
• Don’t deal with a contractor that has out of state license plates on their vehicles or who uses a P.O. Box number for their address unless you can verify their actual business address.
• Never pay by cash and if pressured to do so be leery of the contractor even if they offer a discount for paying cash. Only pay by checks and only made out to the company name!
• Don’t make final payment or sign a lien release until you are satisfied with the work!
• Check with the city or town building departments to insure any necessary permits required have been obtained!
• Remember the old saying, “if it sounds too good to be true it probably isn’t”.
• Don’t go by contractor given references, they certainty won’t give you any that have complained and some may even be friends or relatives of the contractors.

Most contractors are honest, hard working, professionals and it is only the few “bad apples” that makes the Home Improvement Industry the constant most complained about business. 

Carmen Santora is the Executive Director for the Better Contractors Bureau.  The BCB is a non-profit consumer protection agency established in 1974 to be of assistance to the homeowner.  Its goals are to “protect & inform” the consumer, eliminate unscrupulous contractors, and upgrade the image of the home improvement industry.

For a FREE copy of the Better Contractors Bureau’s annual Consumer Guide call the office at 338-3600 or visit the BCB website at www.the-bcb.net

by Carmen Santora

It seems lately we have been experiencing more violent windstorms then ever and with them much more property damage from trees falling. There are not many people that are experienced enough to know whether a tree is rotted or decayed and if it warrants being cut down or not.

Carmen Santora, Executive Director of the BCB says, “because of the danger and fear of what falling trees can do to life and property, another scam is starting to develop. It starts with a concerned call from a homeowner to a tree and landscape company”. Most times after a storm the homeowner is worried and only calls one contractor for a price to trim or cut down dangerous trees. They are at a disadvantage and can be taken advantage of very easily, especially the senior citizen. 

The way the scam works is the homeowner is told the trees in question are rotted, decayed and very dangerous and must be cut down immediately before they fall and causes damage or injury to themselves or their neighbors.

Prices charged by the scam artists are usually higher than normal and payment is asked for up front preferably by cash or by credit card that is processed immediately. Most times there is no contract and many times nothing is given in writing explaining what will be done and what will not be done.

The scammer will tell the customer that they are a NYS Certified Arborist when all they are is a member of an arborist association. Consumers should be warned that when in danger they are the most vulnerable and should make sure they are dealing only with long established reputable tree service companies. If they have questions about trees they can also call a Tree Pathologist.

Some times the small fly by night tree contractors are not insured or if they are only have liability insurance to cover landscaping and not tree cutting which is much more expensive. If an accident occurs while their doing tree work and they don’t carry liability insurance for tree work the home owner could be liable for injury or damages to neighbors and their property and usually a homeowners policy will not cover the incident.

Helpful tips when in need of tree work

1. Never be high pressured into signing a contract or work order only because the threat of danger may be imminent. 
2. Unless the tree has already fallen and caused damage to property always get three estimates for the work.
3. Never pay by cash and only make checks payable to a company name not to a personal individual. If asked to do so that should be a warning that the contractor is operating deceptively. 
4. If a contractor says they are a NYS Certified Arborist check to see that they are and not just a member of an arborist association.
5. Make sure everything that is to be done is specified in writing, especially as to who will remove the tree limbs, stumps and debris. 
6. Ask to see a copy of the contractor’s liability insurance certificate and check if they are insured as a tree contractor not just a landscaper. If in doubt call the insurance company if necessary to verify it, as tree removal insurance is much more costly then landscaping insurance. 

If it is not an emergency situation check the contractor out with the Better Contractors Bureau at 338-3600. 

Carmen Santora is the Executive Director for the Better Contractors Bureau.  The BCB is a non-profit consumer protection agency established in 1974 to be of assistance to the homeowner.  Its goals are to “protect & inform” the consumer, eliminate unscrupulous contractors, and upgrade the image of the home improvement industry.�

Follow these tips to prevent rust, mildew, mold and odors caused by high humidity levels in your home.

High humidity levels in the home encourage rust, mildew, mold and odors; and the moisture can damage cameras, computers and furniture. The problem is easy to solve with a dehumidifier, which is rated by how many pints of water it can take out of the air every 24 hours. A 25 pint unit will serve bedrooms and living areas, but basements and areas with a laundry room or barthroom, consider a 35-40 or even 50 pint unit. These devices cost $175 to $250. Keep the following operation and maintenance tips in mind:

• Be sure the dehumidifier outlet is protected by a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFI) Avoid using extension cords; spilled water presents a shoch hazard.
• Place the unit at least 6 in. from any wall so air flows freely; shut all nearby windows and doors.
• For the first few days of use, turn the humidi-stat to the extra dry setting, which will remove moisture from room furnishings.
• Run the unit only when the room temperature is above 70% F. Frost can form on the coils when it’s below 65% F.
• Look for a unit with an indicator light that signals when the pan or bucket is full.
• To reduce the chance of shock, unplug the device before emptying the water bucket.
• Each month, dust or vacuum off the grilles or louvers, and scrub the bucket with a mild bleach solution to discourage mold, mildew and bacteria.
• Once every three months remove dust from the coils with a soft brush.
• Be sure to NOT locate the dehumidifier close to a sump crock, as it will encourage the dehumidifier to constantly run. If you empty the unit by way of a drain hose into the crock make sure the unit is at least 10-12 ft. away!
• For larger extra damp or wet basements go online to find larger dehumidifiers than are normally not sold at home centers. Some can run as high as $1,500 but are well the investment.