Spring and summer are the peak seasons for people making home improvements, which means it is also the peak time for scammers trying to take advantage of those looking for a home makeover.
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection has issued a consumer alert urging New Yorkers to stay cautious of home improvement scams and to provide tips on how you can protect yourself this season.
Home improvement scams, according to the state Division of Consumer Protection, have consistently ranked among the top five consumer complaints for New Yorkers. The consumer alert states that these scams can cost homeowners thousands of dollars, while leaving them with unfinished work, poor craftsmanship and unsafe results.
“Spring and summer times are the perfect seasons to do home renovations, but consumers should be wary of unsolicited contractors who knock on your door offering repairs or home improvement projects at a ‘bargain price’ because it could simply be a scam,” Secretary of State Walter T. Mosley said. “The Division of Consumer Protection offers tips to New Yorkers so they can avoid costly mistakes by hiring nefarious scammers who can take advantage of their hard-earned money with an unfinished job or no work at all.”
Here are some tips to protect yourself from home improvement scams throughout the 2026 spring and summer seasons.
Tip #1: Verify and research your contractors
The New York State Division of Consumer Protection urges New Yorkers to carefully verify and fully research all home improvement contractors before hiring them to do any work around your house. Here is how to ensure your contractor is legit:
Tip #2: Avoid red flags
Scammers may know all the right things to say and do to trick their victims, but there are usually red flags that give them away. Here is what the NY State Division of Consumer Protection says you should look out for when hiring a home improvement contractor:
Stay cautious of contractors that do the following:
The state Division of Consumer Protection says that home improvement scammers will often provide low-quality work or disappear before completing the project when the homeowner provides any upfront payments. Scammers will also often attempt to create a false sense of urgency to push homeowners into paying for unnecessary work by exaggerating home improvement issues or claiming that a recent city, state or federal regulation requires immediate upgrades.
Tip #3: Be a savvy consumer
To be a smart and savvy consumer during your home improvement operations, the state Division of Consumer Protection suggests the following tips:
If any problems arise during your home improvement projects, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection suggests first trying to reach a resolution with your contractor. If that is not possible, you should file a complaint with your local consumer protection agency or the New York State Division of Consumer Protection at dos.ny.gov/consumer-protection.
— Madison Scott is a New York Connect reporter, covering entertainment, breaking and consumer news, and trending topics with a focus on stories that matter to readers across New York state. She also has an interest in how the system helps or doesn’t help families with missing loved ones. She can be reached at MDScott@USATodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: NY warns homeowners about costly home improvement scams this summer
Reporting by Madison Scott, New York Connect Team / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Madison Scott, New York Connect Team | USA TODAY Network
