Okay, so I am a nag, but how many times have you been told, “don’t pay for work until it’s done?” This report illustrates what can happen when that advice is ignored.

The homeowner wanted to install a lawn sprinkler system as well as additional landscaping. He contacted a company that came out, gave him an estimate and promised to do a great job. Our gullible homeowner signed the contract, paid over $7,000 up-front and waited for the company to complete the work. He is still waiting.

The bad news is that the company is no longer answering its phones and the owner is very elusive. Unfortunately, this case illustrates the pitfalls of work paid for before it’s completed. The most you should pay up-front is a down payment and that should be done by credit card if possible so you have charge-back rights if the work isn’t performed.

In this case, the homeowner paid the full amount by check before any work was done. Bad, bad idea.