Hire someone you chose, get the scope in writing, be there or on the phone, and never pay in full up front. Steps based on the FTC, AARP, NCOA and Illinois AG.
Hire someone you looked up yourself, not someone who knocked on the door. Get the scope and price in writing before work starts, be there or on the phone while it happens, and never pay in full up front or by cash, gift card, wire or payment app. Check references, and call the Illinois Attorney General if something feels wrong.
Why are older homeowners targeted by contractor scams?
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) says scammers often seek out older homeowners because they believe they are more trusting, wealthier, and more likely to have memory or cognitive problems. That is the scammer's view, not a fact about your parent. It is a reason to put a few simple rules in place before anyone shows up.
AARP describes the usual opening in its guide to home improvement scams: someone appears at the door, says they were driving by, and noticed a problem with the roof.
What are the warning signs of a bad contractor?
The FTC's page on how to avoid a home improvement scam lists the common tactics:
- Knocking on the door because they are "in the area"
- Saying they have materials left over from a previous job
- Pressuring you for an immediate decision
- Asking you to pay for everything up front, or accepting only cash
- Asking you to get the building permits yourself
- Suggesting you borrow money from a lender they know
NCOA adds a few more: no contract and only a "handshake deal," payment by a hard-to-trace method, and asking you to sign over an insurance claim payment. It also describes a job that snowballs, where a small repair turns into a list of costly "issues" that supposedly cannot wait.
Our storm-season guide covers the same patterns after bad weather: storm damage contractor scams and red flags.
How do I find a handyman I can trust?
Start with people you already trust. The FTC says to get contractor recommendations from people you know and trust, and NCOA gives the same advice. Then check:
1. References. AARP's guide suggests asking for references from recent jobs, and asking when the jobs were done.
2. Complaints. The FTC suggests searching the company name with words like "scam," "review" or "complaint," and checking with local consumer protection officials. In Illinois, you can call the Attorney General's Consumer Fraud Hotline at 1-800-386-5438 (Chicago) to ask whether complaints have been filed. The numbers are on the Attorney General's helplines page.
3. More than one written estimate. The FTC says a written estimate should describe the work, the materials, the completion date and the price, and that you should not automatically pick the lowest bid.
4. The right license for the trade. Illinois has no state handyman license, so there is no handyman license number to look up for general repairs. Plumbing and roofing are licensed by the state and electrical work is regulated by each city or village. See Handyman vs. licensed contractor in Illinois and our guide to vetting a handyman on the North Shore.
How can I stay involved if I cannot be there every minute?
These are our practical suggestions, not rules from a government source:
- Be there for the walk-through, in person or by phone or video. Agree on the list of repairs while your parent is in the room.
- Pick one family contact. The contractor should know who to call with questions, and your parent should know who that is.
- Ask your parent not to sign or pay anything alone until you or another trusted person has read it. The FTC's own advice is to stop and talk to someone you trust before acting.
- Tell your parent when someone is coming. A scheduled visit from a person you hired is easy to tell apart from an unexpected knock.
- Have a plan for the door. Your parent can say, "I have a family member who handles repairs. Leave a card and we will call you if we need you."
How should payment and paperwork work?
- Get it in writing. Under the Illinois Attorney General's Home Repair and Construction: Know Your Rights guide, a home repair contract over $1,000 should be written, describe the work and state the total cost. It should also set the timing and the payment schedule, including the down payment and final payment. Read more in our guide to the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act.
- Limit the deposit. AARP's guide says deposits should be no more than a third of the total cost, and that the right amount below that depends on the size of the project. The FTC says never to pay the full amount up front, and never to make the final payment until the work is done and you are satisfied.
- Avoid cash. AARP and the FTC both flag cash-only contractors.
- Never pay by gift card, wire transfer, payment app or cryptocurrency. The FTC says to never pay someone who insists on those methods. A check or card leaves a record you can point to later.
- Know the cancellation right. The Attorney General's guide says you have three business days to cancel a sale made at your home that is over $25.
- For larger jobs, ask about liens. The same guide says to request a signed statement listing the people and companies the contractor hired and what they are owed, and to get lien waivers.
What if my parent was already targeted or paid someone?
- The Illinois Attorney General runs a Senior Citizen Consumer Fraud Helpline at 1-800-243-5377, listed on the helplines page. The general Consumer Fraud Hotline is 1-800-386-5438 in Chicago.
- The FTC takes reports at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- The AARP Fraud Watch Network runs a free helpline at 877-908-3360 for members and non-members. It gives guidance and support, but it does not investigate cases or recover money.
- If your parent paid by card or bank transfer, call the bank or card issuer right away.
Telling someone matters. NCOA says it is important to speak up about a suspected scam, even if it is tempting to keep it to yourself.
Who is Enhaus?
Enhaus is a family business owned by Natasha and Eduard Semenenko, who live locally. If your parent needs repairs done, send us the list and photos and we will confirm the scope and the current rate before work starts. Plumbing, electrical and roofing go to licensed independent contractors.
FAQ
Is it normal for a handyman to ask for a deposit?
Often yes, for materials or to hold a date. AARP's guide says a deposit should be no more than a third of the total cost. Get the amount and the payment schedule in writing.
Does a handyman need a license in Illinois?
Illinois has no state handyman license. Plumbing and roofing are state licensed, and electrical is regulated by each city or village. Some towns also require a local business license or registration.
Someone at the door says my parent's roof is damaged. What should we do?
Do not agree to anything and do not sign. Ask them to leave a card. If you want the roof checked, call a licensed roofer you chose yourself. You can check roofing licenses on the IDFPR roofing license search.
Who can I call if I am not sure whether an offer is a scam?
The Illinois Attorney General's Senior Citizen Consumer Fraud Helpline at 1-800-243-5377, or the AARP Fraud Watch Network helpline at 877-908-3360.
To send your list and photos, call or text (847) 877-1877.
