Warm weather is when the pests come out – the kind who try to rip you off on home improvements, that is.

Transient con artists often solicit customers door to door, do shoddy or incomplete work and then skip town with the money when the authorities move in.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry cautions homeowners to be skeptical of anyone who comes to your door unsolicited or uses high-pressure sales tactics. Be suspicious of contractors who say they’ve just finished work on a neighbor’s house and have just enough materials to do repair work on yours.

Other red flags: The person requests full payment before completing the work, gives you a post office box without a street address or phone number, or promises to do the work faster and more cheaply than any other company.

To avoid scams, NARI recommends you do the following when you’re considering hiring a contractor:

¢ Get the name and address of the company.

¢ Get all details of the offer in writing, and review it carefully. Be sure that you understand everything in the contract and that any promises made orally are included.

¢ Find out how long the company has been in business. The Better Business Bureau is a good resource.

¢ Call trade organizations with which the company is affiliated to determine its legitimacy.

¢ Ask for references, and contact each.