Be Careful Who You Hire to Work on Your Home!

Ever tried to find an online service provider on Google? Here's my experience with Powell and Sons and other online lead generators!

[G_Machine_Joe]

Even if I recognize the name when I search for something like this, I never NEVER click on a link if it is labeled as 'Sponsored'.
Drill down to the same link that's not sponsored. The search engine won't make any money on your click and it helps prevent targeted ads.
Also, when I do pick a site to get info or help from, I always search for their contact info. It's amazing how many legitimate looking sources there are that have no actual building or contact info. If you notice that, run...and keep searching.

[sandysmith]

Talk with neighbors or friends for a referral. Make sure the contractor is licensed and bonded by going on your states website, usually L&I. If materials are delivered to your project, make sure you get a lien release from the suppliers. This ensures suppliers won't come after you for payment for said materials.

[clayhamm]

I am a former contractor. My recommendation, if you have zero personal connections, is to go to visit local supply houses and ask the guys at the counter who they would recommend. Then have at least three of those leads come out to look at your job. Because you are asking the counter guys for something, not buying anything, make it worth their while to talk to you by bringing food. Don't go early during the morning rush, go late morning and bring donuts. Or go late mid afternoon and bring a pizza. You'll get a lot more information this way.

[stephen]

“I decided to look up their location and go talk to them in person.” This is something I would do - since I hate talking on the phone. Many businesses are surprised when a customer walks in, when all their appointments are handled over the phone.

Side note - I ordered some custom made steel grates (long story) and I called to place the order bc I had questions. When he took the order and asked for my shipping address, he was surprised when I said I would just come pick them up. They don’t really have a front office, but the guy called me when they were ready, and I drove an hour out to the shop, and he gave me a tour of the facility.

[mjtjgilbert]

I needed an electrician once. I just put it in a community Facebook group what I needed and a guy who is the father of this kid I went to high school with answered. He showed up when he was supposed to, did a good job. I was happy

[Paul_Halicki]

I moderate a neighborhood group on FB, and watching your videos helps me weed out members and posts that are scammy, so thanks for that. Our default setting is EVERY post has to be preapproved, and once we learn someone is a legit neighborhood resident we preapprove their posts. But one rule we have is that NO ONE can self-promote/advertise/spam the group. That protects a lot of our members from contractors that are looking to prey on group members. If someone asks for recommendations, then people can provide them, but again, no one who's actually a contractor is supposed to answer.

[zachary]

You should do a video on Google sponsored links. They almost always have scams. Or always shady sites.

[jeffmc]

I'm going start a business and just call it Powell and Sons!! I'm getting free nationwide advertising!!

[KimyonaKyandi]

This is the equivalent to trying to hire people to do your doors or siding through Lowes. The people who get hired through that are so horrible. We finally got our doors done and they installed every door incorrectly TWICE. Siding has been delayed so many times over because the doors and the siding people calling out that we've been calling out left and right and now we have to pay extra for the longer wait. It sucks cause we've been trying to get the house done after being devastatingly hit by Hurricane Ian. I think hiring through Lowes is a bigger scam in itself.

[Cacille]

I got put into one of these when I searched for a window contractor to help me repair 3 windows. Just. Repair.
Never did find a window contractor that repaired windows, but oh boy did I get a million window replacement companies that would LOVE for me to replace all 23 windows in my house, and anything less than 10 windows and they wouldn't take the job!
I ended up getting some glass cut, a whole bunch of silicone, and doing the job myself.
....I still get calls from people in India asking if I'm interested in window replacement services, almost 2 years later.

[man_on_wheelz]

As a new homeowner, I'm glad I'm capable of doing most home-repair/upgrade work on my own. Whenever I need something big done, like a new roof or sewer work, etc... I'll just count my savings and dish out the extra dough to use a credible, known service, unless I have a lead on a decent independent contractor.

[sweethistortea]

My parents once hired a contractor named Gordon. My dad saw his van, and thought it would be a good idea. Gordon was an absolute terror. He was creepy towards me and my younger sister, cleaned his paint brushes off the neighbours house, left paint residue in the bathroom sink, missed up any paint job, oh, it was awful. My dad wanted to pay him for what he did and hire someone else. Gordon started screaming and being hostile. I also did some digging of my own, and couldn’t find a website or even a Facebook page for that that guy. My parents called the police on him from how bad he was.

[mdell]

Don’t ever click on a “sponsored” link oh and Powell and sons are the #1 in my city too in New Jersey, thank you please keep doing what you do❤️

[normabrammer]

As many other have already commented, referrals from friends and neighbors work well. We recently needed egress windows in our basement, I answered a Facebook AD but quickly did a shout out to a local neighborhood group to see who had used them. They did a great job, and were reasonably priced.

[HardwarePirate]

Never click Google sponsored links!
More people need to see this video!!!

[itsjeninMass]

When we're looking for a contractor/home pro, we either ask our friends and family, or we post to a Facebook group for the nearest town. (We live in a very small town, so we do most of our business the next town over.)

I DO use Google, but I ignore anything that says, "sponsored, " which is probably why we get legit results.

We also tend to use the same companies, once we connect with them and hire them, as long as we're happy with them.

My husband and I both really like to support local businesses. It's very important to us that we be able to support and help out our "neighbors!"

I LOVE your channel! You're very good at explaining what's a scam and why, and your videos are very entertaining!

[harrykaincles]

I am in construction and the saying " you get what you pay for!" is 100% correct. Be carful on who you hire don't get the cheapest or don't get the most expensive.

[teebee]

I always, ALWAYS, ask on our neighbors page for my area. You get recommendations for local people from local people. You also get told the bad stuff too so you can get a more rounded idea of the work and prices as well as their behavior towards customers.

[susanelliott]

Its a nightmare we have the same problems in the UK. 🇬🇧 If you need any work done your better asking family & close friends. Do feel for you so much. Sadly scammers are everywhere. Glad you got your drain sorted. Thanks for highlighting this problem. Please be careful & remember you are loved. ❤🤗

[Dr_V]

Lately I go directly on YT looking for D.I.Y. tutorials (for things that I don't already know how to handle), as I'm a reasonably handy guy with a fair bit of tinkering experience. The only things I don't tackle myself are gas lines, centralized heating (at the apartment) and high voltage power connections.
When I do need to hire a professional I always ask to see their certification(s) first, as around here the main problem is large numbers of "handymen" posing as specialists in stuff they're not actually qualified for.