SUMMER SCAMS!

Memorial Day weekend signals the unofficial start to summer. Families open their cottages, snow birds - a.k.a. grandma and grandpa - return from their winter respite, and with thoughts turning to landscaping and home improvement, scam artists flock to target the elderly or uninformed.

The scam is simple. Approach the home owner, offer a great deal on “left over” material from a job “around the corner,” and pressure the person to make a decision on the spot.  The result? Work that may be sub-par, is usually overpriced, and may not complete all permitting requirements. This scam takes on several variations, including installation of work never requested or agreed to and pressuring the homeowner to pay for the services by threatening to lien the home because of non-payment. One way you can help? Educate yourself, elderly friends, and neighbors.

Any unsolicited call, via phone or in person, should be viewed with suspicion. Any of these unsolicited service providers requesting immediate payment via check, untraceable “Green Dot” card, or by providing bank routing numbers, should be avoided. High pressure tactics that use urgency, anger, or threats, should be a red flag to stop interacting with the individual. Know your rights. Also, reassure any elderly person in your life that they can call for support checking the validity of a contractor or service provider.

If you're planning a construction project this season, here are some helpful tips to consider when reviewing estimates and selecting a contractor:

Always get multiple project bids.
The lowest bid is not necessarily the best choice. Try to get an understanding of why one bid is significantly lower or higher than the others; the reasons might change your decision.

Ensure the contractor has the appropriate licenses & insurance.
Make sure these licenses are active. You can call the appropriate agency or go online to check. Do you really want to pay for the injury and medical costs of your brother-in-law’s cousin? Or any other hired employee?

Ensure the contractor has the proper work experience.
A plumber cannot landscape your garden. A painter cannot pave your driveway. You are hiring them for their expertise – make them earn the right to work for you, and prove their knowledge.

All project specifications and payment terms should be written in the contract.
Is it two coats of paint or one? What type of paint? How deep is the gravel foundation under the driveway? Is it adequate for the size of your RV?

The best contractors provide a written warranty or guarantee.
This applies to reputation as well. If the company has been around for a long time, there is usually a good reason why. New start-ups might be good, but the brief history combined with the longevity of the product, might make it difficult to measure.

Get recent references from the contractors you are considering!
Ask your friends and family for references – word of mouth and their experiences do matter. Check the references provided! Don’t just hire the brother-in-law’s cousin! (Our apologies to the brother-in-law’s cousin who does fit all the responsible characteristics above.)

And last but most important…You should contact them first!
If someone knocks on your door and tells you they have material leftover from a job down the street, this is a RED Flag! You have not had time to complete your research. Take time to review the facts.  If someone leaves an unsolicited bid, call the business main line number (not the number provided on the quote.) You can find numbers online or in the phone book, if you still have one. Confirm the person providing the estimate is an actual employee in good standing with the company and able to enter into contracts.  It is okay to say no, ask questions, and take time to think. No legitimate “deal” will disappear in 24 hours.

Following the buyer checklist will allow a smoother improvement project, a more enjoyable summer, and completion before the snow birds have to head south for the winter.

Team Elmer's Update:
Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail: Phase III

The Sleeping Bear Dunes Heritage Trail - Phase III is open, ahead of schedule! This newest section, 3.38 miles from Fisher Road to Port Oneida Road, will add to the existing 9.5 miles of previously completed trail.  The Phase III portion of the trail includes 600 feet of boardwalk over wetlands along the west side of Westman Road, paved trail through two-thirds of Phase III, and will honor history using gravel and limestone sand on the trail section connecting to the Port Oneida Rural Historic District.

The public is invited to attend the official ribbon cutting for the new section of trail on June 17, 11:00 AM at Olsen Farm in Port Oneida.

Team Elmer's Update - Ep.2: Heritage Trail - Phase III

The Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail is a project of the Leelanau Scenic Heritage Route Committee (LSHR). Trail development is a partnership between the LSHR Committee, the Michigan Department of Transportation, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes, and TART Trails. Funding for trail development comes from federal and state grants, foundations, and individual donations.

Want to keep trail development momentum going? Fundraising is still underway to complete the trail to Good Harbor. To donate or learn more about the Sleeping Bear Heritage Trail please visit the SBHT Donation Page or contact Pam Darling, Development Director for TART Trails (pam@traversetrails.org or 231-941-4300). 

FACTS AT A GLANCE:

Challenge: Limited access to trail and narrow 20 ft. work zone.

Solution: Patience with access (equipment back-up over long distances) and attention to detail to minimize impact and honor work zone area.

Customer name: MDOT- TRAVERSE CITY TSC

Location: on M-22 from east of Glen Arbor northerly to Port Oneida Road, Leelanau County

Owner Name: MDOT- TRAVERSE CITY TSC

Engineer Name: DAVID L. PAX, R.E.

Engineer Phone Number: 231-941-1986

Start & Completion Dates: 10/27/2014 TO 5/22/2015

Dollar value: $1,726,772

Partners (subcontractors, etc): BELLA CONCRETE, G & J SITE SOLUTIONS, GIVE ‘EM A BRAKE SAFETY

Percent Self Performed: 90%

Other relevant information: Phase III of Heritage Trail; Completed one week ahead of schedule.