Beware of paving contractors soliciting business door-to-door

Your driveway is one of the first things people see when they look at your home. So, installing a driveway is a big investment in your home’s curb appeal, not to mention a lot of work. It’s not an easy job to do yourself and may be best to leave it to the professionals. Whether you are starting from scratch on a new driveway or repairing your old one, Better Business Bureau offers help hiring a contractor to do the job.

Consumers should remember that legitimate paving contractors do not go door-to-door soliciting work. If someone knocks on your door and states he or she is doing work in the neighborhood and has some extra asphalt he or she can sell to you at a greatly reduced price, be cautious.

BBB offers these additional tips to consider when hiring a paving company:

■ Ask friends and family who they’ve worked with. Also, check out online reviews.

■ Get multiple quotes. Rank the quotes on the professionalism of the firm, charges, crew, technology and materials of the project.

■ Ask for references and contact them.

■ Verify the contractor is in compliance with all local licensing, bonding and insurance requirements.

■ Consider a company’s reputation and years of service.

■ Avoid a contractor asking you to get the required permits.

■ 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.

■ Avoid deals that seem toogood-to-be-true. If the quoted price seems low, chances are the quality of work will be poor.

■ Ask the contractor if the company is a member of an industry trade association such as NAPA.

■ Inquire about what equipment they will use. Are they using the most up-to-date equipment? Be wary of anyone claiming “new and improved” techniques.

■ Get a detailed written contract, which includes total job cost, payment terms, details of the project (asphalt thickness, base specs and size of area to be paved), warranty coverage, terms and conditions. Read everything carefully.

■ Never pay up front. A legitimate, trustworthy company won’t do business that way.

If you have questions, visit www.bbb.org or call 937-2225825 or 800-776-5301 for a list of BBB Accredited paving companies or profiles on the businesses you may be considering.