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July 15, 2010 – Marietta, GA: Homeowners from the City of Marietta, and surrounding communities, will have the opportunity on Wednesday, August 4th from 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm, at the Central Branch Library, 266 Roswell Street, Marietta, Georgia 30060, to attend a free “SmartPower” workshop on “How to Protect Yourself From Home Improvement, Home Repair, and Contractor Fraud.” The 2-hour workshops, provided by The National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud (NCPHIF), are free and open to the public and will help educate consumers and homeowners on how to become their own quality control managers, while undergoing a home improvement or repair project. Those interested in attending and learning more about the workshop can email us at rsvp@ncphif.org, or call us at (678) 705-4455.
Senior citizens, first time homebuyers, women, disaster or storm affected communities, and those who speak English as a second language are especially vulnerable to contractor fraud. According to AARP, “Senior citizens are particularly vulnerable to home improvement fraud. Many are “too trusting” to resist contractor demands for upfront payment, which often leads to non-performance. And too, they are, most likely, not going to report they have been victimized.”
Disaster and storm affected communities are also primary targets for contractor fraud. In 2009, The National Insurance Crime Bureau reported that more than four times as many roof repair scams involving hailstorm damage were reported in the first quarter as were reported in the same period of 2008.
The devastating effects of the September 2009 storm brought catastrophic damage to Georgia communities in 21 counties. FEMA and GEMA estimated that more than 20,000 structures in the state were damaged at a cost of more than $5 Million. “After a disaster hits, predatory and unqualified contractors take advantage of stressed-out, uninformed and desperate homeowners,” says Phae, “making them victims, twice.”
The current sales decline in the industry has dictated sellers cannot sell their homes and some are opting to stay, remodel and wait out the economic storm instead of selling too low, while others are choosing to improve and/or repair their homes to get the best price when they attempt to sell. Despite its immensity, the quarter-trillion-dollar-a-year home repair industry consists mainly of thousands of tiny firms that engage in millions of small transactions annually. Although some consumer protection does exist, it is mostly reactive vs. proactive. NCPHIF is focused on preventing contractor fraud through educational workshops, an informational website and eventually a nationwide database. For its Executive Director, Phae Howard, the fight to expose unscrupulous contractors, and educate homeowners is personal as well as professional.
“My Grandmother was the first person I knew that was financially and emotionally victimized by a fraudulent contractor,” says Phae. “I was shocked at how easy contractor fraud was. I don’t know how much money my Grandmother lost, but I absolutely remember the pain on her face. That will stay with me always. My goal is to keep others from experiencing that kind of devastation.”
NCPHIF believes that the only way to prevent these types of scams is through education. “SmartPower” workshops have been created to empower homeowners with the information they need to be “smart” about undertaking a project and working with a home improvement or home repair contractor. Workshops are led by subject matter experts who will help homeowners navigate through the process.
David Colmans, the Executive Director of the Georgia Insurance Information Service, will share contractor scams and horror stories while providing tips on how to prevent becoming a victim. “The importance of “SmartPower” workshops cannot be overstated,“ says Colmans. “Homeowners need a great deal of information about what to do and what not to do when it comes to home repairs, and offers from subcontractors that the homeowners don’t know.”
Richard J. Telesford, a Renovation/Remodeling Specialist, and Lanard Cullins a Housing and Community Development Expert, will speak about some of the most important things consumers should know before they begin their project. Both certified FEMA Disaster Housing Inspectors, will also discuss “How to stay on top of what your contractor is really doing“ and “What you should do before giving your contractor the final payment.”
Community & Housing Initiatives Corporation’s Executive Director Melanie Wofford, says, “As a community advocate, it is my job to help bring credible information and valuable resources to empower our residents. We’re partnering with NCPHIF to bring the SmartPower seminars to metro-Atlanta communities to assist homeowners in making informed decisions that will help them to avoid becoming victims of contractor fraud.” Wofford also chairs the Atlanta Nonprofit Council of Neighborhood Planning Unit- T.
About NCPHIF: The National Center for the Prevention of Home Improvement Fraud is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. NCPHIF’s mission is to educate homeowners BEFORE they begin a home improvement or home repair project, to greatly reduce the chances of victimization from contractor fraud. Visit our website for upcoming workshops throughout Atlanta.
