So far in Alberta this year, four home renovation contractors have been convicted of renovation fraud activities. A year ago, a London, Ontario man pleaded guilty to 19 counts of fraud, in which most of the victims were seniors, in renovation scams to support an alleged gambling habit. An Ontario driveway paver was found guilty of unfair business practices when consumers from Sarnia to Belleville complained about the work. One owner's vehicle sank into the asphalt when it was parked, according to Ontario's Ministry of Consumer and Business Services.

Year after year, across Canada, gullible consumers fall victim to renovation scams. The Canadian Council of Better Business Bureaus says general contractors and home renovation were among the top 10 complaints received by consumers in May this year.

Most problems relating to home renovations involve contractors who solicit contracts door-to-door, says the Consumer Services Division, Alberta Government Services.

In a seniors fraud awareness program, the division says that in many cases, these disreputable contractors have searched out potential victims based on their age and the age of their houses.

In a typical case, the contractor says he "just happened to be in the area" and "noticed that your bricks are loose" or "the roof needs fixing" or something similar. In many cases, the work doesn't need doing at all. A contractor promises that since he is in the neighbourhood, he can "give you a special price", and he may also promise a discount if you allow him to advertise your work. Some offer "lifetime warranties" that mean nothing because you won't be able to find them if anything goes wrong.

Consumers should immediately be suspicious of any contractor who shows up unexpectedly, with an great offer. Another tipoff that he could be a scam artist is if he offers a quick quote on a job without carefully investigating the work that has to be done, and if he demands a large amount of money up front for building materials. He might also offer to work without a contract or for cash, which he promises will save you money.

Homeowners who have been duped by such pitches have paid out deposits for materials and then never seen the contractor again. Or, the work has been substandard or completely overpriced.

No matter what story you hear at the door, it's always best to take your time before making any renovation decisions. Here are some other common-sense ideas when you need home repairs or renovations:

Published: July 18, 2002

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Jim Adair is editor of REM: Canada's Real Estate Magazine, a business publication for real estate agents and brokers. He has been writing about Canadian real estate, home building and renovation issues for more than 30 years. You can contact Jim at .