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Show Renovation Sharpers Harrass U. S. Home Owners The house hacke'eers are at it again. From around the country come reports of home owners bilked by fast lalkers in the house renovation and repair bus-iness. bus-iness. who promise bargainr n termite-proofing, kitchen reconstruction, recon-struction, roofing, etc., and deliver deli-ver mainly heartaches. Some of their tricks: Promising cut-rate renovation jobs to people who will permit their homes to be pho'ographed for "advertising" purposes. The offer is hedged with so many conditions that inevitably the full price must be paid. Concealing substantial extra charges in the fine print In the fine print in the counract. j Offering worthless guarantees, and then leaving town. i Over $500 million will be paid to the racketeers this year by gullible home owners. Here is what the better business bureaus and the federal housing administration admin-istration say you should do to protect yourself. Don't bite at superbargains. If in doubt ask for for the names of four or five previous customers that you can check with. If the company is no' known to you, check its standing with your local bank, the chamber of commerce or the better business bureau. This is essenial if dealing deal-ing with out-of-town or itinerant itiner-ant firms. Read the contract twice before signing. Demand a duplicate of what you sirn, with the contractor's contrac-tor's sinaturr on it. Don't sign the completion cer-tificate-indicating the job meets with you approval until you have satisfied yourself that it is in accord with the contract or sales agreement. |