The worst perpetrators are those who then fail to show up to complete the job. They stop answering clients' phone calls, and in the worst-case scenario, disappear altogether. Home improvement experts suggest that homeowners take note if contractors routinely skip days, show up late, or send only one employee out to the job site. Those are all warning signs that the contractor might be facing serious financial trouble for which you could end up paying if you're not careful. The product switcheroo.
Some contractors sell homeowners one type of product and then install another inferior version.
To prevent this from happening, make sure you get the products in writing up front. If a contractor experiences a memory lapse and can't seem to remember which brand of product he's going to use on your remodeling project, don't sign anything until he writes it down and you agree to it. If you sign a vague contract that fails to mention product brands and models, you're leaving yourself open to the installation of inferior materials. Some contractors claim it's not their policy to write that information down. In that case, find yourself another contractor.