9 Lies Contractors Tell

If you own real estate, chances are you’ve participated in the time-honored adventure known as ” hiring a contractor .” You’ve probably also learned that contractors operate in their own separate reality, where time flows differently and words often mean completely different things.

Make it worse? Even if you have done your due diligence, you may not always trust what contractors say. Not all contractors will outright lie to you, but some will, and others will simply say what they think is true, but is not. Here are nine things your contractor might say that you should never believe without checking.

“Yes, we can do it in a month”

By discussing the job with you, the contractor has greater motivation to tell you what you want to hear. This often involves imagining that the work will be quick, easy, and won’t cause much disruption to your life. This is especially true if you insist that the work be completed within a certain time frame. If you tell your contractor that you really want your bathroom renovation done in one month, he will probably assure you that it can be done. Three months later, you’ll probably still be showering at the gym. This isn’t always a nefarious act – no one has control over the supply chain, and subcontractors drop out and don’t show up, causing schedules to slip. But unless your deadlines are in writing, don’t expect anyone to stick to them (and even then, see the previous sentence).

“Grout will cover it.”

When you’re tiling your bathroom or kitchen and notice that some of the tiles are off-center, unevenly spaced, or have chips along the edges, you may be told not to worry about it because those imperfections will magically disappear when you apply grout. To some extent, grout does hide imperfections, but it won’t magically make crooked tiles look straight and can even highlight chips and other damage.

“We always get half in advance”

It is not unreasonable for a contractor to ask for money up front. This may include paying for the necessary materials and a small down payment for the job to keep you on their schedule. Although legal down payment maximums vary from state to state, a good rule of thumb is around $1,000, or 10% of the total cost of the job. If a contractor insists that he always gets 50% upfront—or more—he’s likely passing on cash flow problems to you or planning to walk away with the money and never show up again.

“We don’t sign contracts”

If you’re talking about a small project that requires a handyman, you may not need a contract. But a major overhaul should always include everything in writing. If your contractor says he never uses contracts, he is either lying or simply unreliable. Leave.

“We were just next door”

If a contractor ever shows up at your home uninvited and tells you that he’s working nearby and happened to notice something wrong (with your roof, for example), offering to do the repairs cheaply since he’s nearby anyway, politely decline. This is a common home improvement scam. These people work in the neighborhood collecting money and either do a poor job or simply disappear.

“All inclusive offer”

Never take a contractor’s word that the quote he gives you covers everything – read it and ask questions. Do they provide for waste removal and cleaning? Will they be present during inspections? If you requested specific materials or finishes, is it in writing? This may be in good faith, but you still shouldn’t trust them about it.

“We are fully licensed and bonded.”

The contractor tells you that he is licensed. Big! Then you should ask what they are licensed for and where they are licensed. There is a difference between a business license and a contractor’s license, and licensing often states what the contractor is legally authorized to do. If the contractor you hire to do your masonry work is actually a licensed plumber or only has a business license, you may not be protected by law if the job goes wrong.

“We’ve looked at all the scenarios”

If your contractor tells you that he has covered every scenario in his proposal and scope of work, doubt it. This is usually not a deliberate lie, but no matter how much effort you and your contractor put into predicting every possible problem or unexpected difficulty in a remodeling or renovation project, you will fail and something unexpected will happen. And this surprise will not be included in the scope of work and will cost you extra.

“No permission needed”

Never trust a contractor who tells you that you don’t need a permit for the job you’re hiring him to do. Maybe you won’t! Or maybe the contractor just doesn’t want to go to the local construction office at 7am and spend an hour getting it. They may not be lying, but don’t believe them – call them or go online and find out for yourself.

Most contractors are honest, highly trained professionals who will improve your home. But when it comes to dealing with them, the key phrase to remember is “trust but verify.”