If you're looking for the cheapest, best home improvement methods to fancy up your house, there are a number of things you can do, and all of them are legal. Here are some methods I recommend:1 – Always get three or more bids, ideally mixed from big-commercial to one-man show sized.
2 – Make sure that your contractor is licensed, bonded, and/or insured. These are quality hallmarks.
3 – Ask what the "cash price" is. Many contractors will discount based on this. They'll still give you a receipt and warranty, but they won't pay tax on it. They're fraud is your legitimate gain, sometimes.
4 – Check the internet, but don't buy it there, because the web only has the best rates sometimes.
5 – Always pay with credit card when you don't get a cash discount. This allows you to effortlessly "stop payment" if the work is not completed.
6 – Never put a deposit of more than 10% on the work being done. Never know when the contractor is going to disappear on you without so much as touching the project.
7 – Never use the roofer or plumber with the full-page ad in the Yellow Pages, those guys are invariably unscrupulous.
8 – Never fall for the "today only price" scam. Always take a day to think about the price, if they say they can't honor the price tomorrow, it's almost surely a COIT-style scam.
9 – Trust neighbor kids/contractors precisely as far as you can throw them. Don't give them deposits and never hire them for big projects, no matter how attractive it may be.