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GuideMost home service pros are honest, hard-working people. But the bad actors cost homeowners billions, and they're good at seeming legitimate. Knowing the red flags — and the simple checks that defeat them — protects your money and your home. Here's how to hire with confidence and spot a scam before it costs you.
Be cautious of anyone who demands a large cash deposit upfront, pressures you to decide immediately, won't provide a written scope and price, can't show licensing or insurance, has no verifiable identity or reviews, or offers a deal that's suspiciously cheap. Legitimate pros are transparent and patient; scammers create urgency and resist paperwork.
A common scam: a pro doing one job suddenly 'discovers' an urgent, expensive problem that must be fixed right now. Sometimes it's real, often it's manufactured. The defense is simple — never agree to major unplanned work on the spot. Get a second opinion and a written quote before authorizing anything beyond the original scope.
Large upfront deposits are where homeowners lose the most — the pro vanishes, or does partial work and demands more. Avoid big cash deposits, prefer structured payments tied to milestones, and never pay the full amount before the work is done and inspected. Payment that's held until you confirm completion removes this risk entirely.
Verify identity, licensing (for regulated trades) and insurance. Read reviews for jobs like yours. Get everything in writing. Avoid cash-only deals. These four habits defeat the overwhelming majority of scams — and they're exactly what a vetted platform builds in so you don't have to chase them yourself.
Booking through a platform that vets pros, captures scope and price, requires approval for extra work, and holds payment until you confirm removes most of the ways scams work. On Genie, every pro is ID-verified and background-checked for in-home work, extra work needs your approval, and your payment is protected and backed by the Genie Protection Fund.
Trust your instincts — if a pro is pressuring you, dodging paperwork, or demanding cash, stop. You're never obligated to proceed. Pause, get a second opinion, and book a vetted pro instead. A moment of friction now beats a costly cleanup later.
Large cash deposits, high-pressure urgency, no written scope or price, no verifiable licensing/insurance or reviews, and deals that are suspiciously cheap. Legitimate pros are transparent; scammers create urgency and resist paperwork.
Verify identity, licensing and insurance, read reviews for similar jobs, get everything in writing, avoid cash-only deals, and never pay in full upfront. Platforms that hold payment until you confirm remove most of the risk.
Don't authorize major unplanned work on the spot. Get a second opinion and a written quote first. On Genie, any extra work must be approved by you before you're charged.