The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Beware of home reno fraud artists One of the most common frauds, especially in relation to seniors, occurs in the area of home renovations. Most frequently, unscrupulous contractors attend the homes of unsuspecting individuals and provide quotes for work that may not be necessary. Although some legitimate contractors may engage in door-to-door solicitation, please be cautious of contractors who are willing to renovate your home; especially if you did not initiate the inquiry or wanted to have a renovation completed in the first place. The following will help prevent problems related to home renovations. 1. Do not be pressured to sign a contract right away in order to take advantage of a "door-to-door" offer. 2. Make sure everything you agree to is in writing (i.e. the cost, start and end dates, and who is responsible for cleanup). 3. Get written, detailed estimates from three or four contractors and stay away from the contractor who quotes flat rates before inspecting your house. Determine if the price includes the cost of materials and labour. 4. Renovations don't automatically add value to your home. Don't be talked into unnecessary renovations. 5. Keep down payments to a minimum-- 10 per cent of the total estimate is fair, and never pay the full amount until the work is completed. 6. If a large amount of money is involved, you may want to have your lawyer or a friend go over the contract and explain it to you before you sign. If you have any questions about a renovation contract, it is better to not sign the document and give yourself time to have it checked before you sign it. If you authorize work to be completed for a cost that turns out to be much higher than should be charged, it may not constitute a fraud; therefore, it is essential to get several quotes, to see what a "normal" cost is before you sign the contract. The above information and other tips with regard to home renovations can be found at the Canadian Home Builders' Association at www.hiringacontractor.com or you can contact the Ministry of Government Services at 800-268-1142 or at www.mgs.gov.on.ca Contact me personally for crime prevention tips at 905-878-5511 extension 2470, or by e-mailing chris.borak@hrps.on.ca. Please reserve the 911 system for emergency calls only. --Const. Chris Borak is the community support officer for District 1