Crooked HVAC contractors have given everyone trying to make an honest living a bad name in our industry. How can you as the homeowner figure out if someone is good or bad when meeting them for the first time?
I've compiled 3 red flags you can watch out for when you're getting quotes for a new heating and air conditioning system. I can't guarantee you won't run into one of these sleazeballs, but hopefully, these things will help you decide if someone is bad news bears before you make a mistake dealing with them.
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Hey guys before we get to the video for more tips and tricks in the heating and air industry, please click that subscribe button. Thank you. Hey guys, josh with griffin air and the new hvac guide, wanted to do a video, because we all know there are sheisty heating and air companies out there that are giving us all a bad name. How can you spot one if everyone coming in your home is a stranger? This video is not for you.

If you already have someone, you trust, someone that you depend on someone that you have a relationship with already. That is not for you, but this video is for you, folks that are getting quotes, you're having different companies that are coming in your house for the first time. And how can you know if someone is genuine, someone, that's being honest and you're, going to be happy that you did business with? So what are some of the red flags that you can watch out for before you're being taken advantage of? Unfortunately, there's no crystal ball. There's no way to find out if someone's, a scam, artist and they're just saying the right things before they take advantage of you.

I wish it wasn't true, but there are people out there that can just tell you what you want to hear until it's too late. So i believe there are three things that you can watch out for that will allow you to tell if someone you are about to do business with is genuine, honest and someone that has your best interests at heart. First, whether or not they have a contract in place, this is a big one, because there are so many companies out there. Even though you're about to spend thousands of dollars with them, they will ask you to do business with them without a contract and some of them, even if you request one, have no interest in doing a contract, you see, if you do a contract they're now bound To that contract, there's a paper trail now, of course, they can still be sheisty even after you have a contract in place, but at least you'll be able to read the contract up front and see if there are any red flags just from reading the contract.

If someone is not willing to do some sort of agreement in writing, you may want to run. If you check out my website newhvacguide.com, we go through some of the things that should be in that contract. Just in general, get a contract make sure you read over, it make sure everything seems legit. The second thing i would watch out for would be companies not wanting you to shop around to get more quotes.

I'm not saying it's always a bad thing to go ahead and do business with someone, that's giving you the warm fuzzies, but what i'm saying is if a company is trying to close the sale and has no interest in you shopping around getting other quotes. That may be a red flag. I'd love for my customers to get other quotes because they have a front row seat to seeing what we do right and wrong versus someone else. That's not to say that you should price shop and always go with the lowest bid.

I'm just saying i think getting more quotes is about talking to more than one contractor, getting different opinions and seeing if you can compare apples to apples, see if somebody gives you the warm fuzzy see if somebody makes you feel good about doing business with them. You're about to make a big decision, and you should definitely get more than one quote, especially if you're doing business with someone for the first time. The last thing i would watch out for is if someone is too busy to even return your call or hard to get in touch with now. I'm not saying you want to do business with somebody that can be johnny on the spot.
They're just sitting there twiddling their phones and they're so excited that you called that might be a little bit of a red flag too. There's always that restaurant with a line out the door and there's a reason for it right. But i believe, if you're about to spend thousands of dollars with a company and they're hard to get in touch with how hard are they going to be to get in touch with, when you don't have thousands of dollars to spend with them once the system's installed And you're trying to call them back to get some maintenance or to get something repaired, or even just to simply ask a question about your new system. How hard are they going to be to track down after that? So i hope that helps.

If you have any comments or questions, please leave them below thanks for watching. The last thing i'll say is: if you're in the market for a new heating and air system and you're in virginia and the middle peninsula or the northern neck, give griffin air a call. We'll give you a free estimate and the best warranty in the area, but if you're not in our coverage area check out my new website, i've even got a little banner up here. New hvac guide, dot com check out that site because we've put so much information on there.

It's as if i wrote a book telling folks, hey here's, the good and the bad avoid this or that i've even got a whole page called no knows things to stay away from, and so before you spend thousands check out that website and finally, for more tips And tricks in the heating and air industry click that subscribe button thanks for watching you.

9 thoughts on “Sleazy hvac contractors! 3 historic red flags before you spend thousands!”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars bob boscarato says:

    Best time for complete installs is during the off season! Better job and less money! Always get referrals from friends, neighbors, trade associations and the BBB!

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Jonathan Saladin says:

    My bedroom is a sauna from March to September and I’m in Pennsylvania Leigh high Valley, I’ve had 2 contractors come and give me an estimate on a ductless mini split unit. 1st Unit size is 9k Daiken and second unit size is 12k btu Mitsubishi. The Daiken (9000 btu 17 seer) the other is a Mitsubishi (12k btu 23.4 seer) the Daiken was 4500 installed and the Mitsubishi installed he was “quoted “ to me at 9500 that to me is a very big difference. okay yes my bedroom is on the second floor (exterior wall) but these price are insane Im going to keep looking. But what would you suggest.

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Samuel Nicksic says:

    what have your experiences been like with York? looking at a single stage, non-micro channel AC and 2 stage furnace. thanks much. love the channel. Service area Barrhaven??

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Daniel L says:

    During the summer all prices are 2k more then in fall period. Thats not shisty. Dishonest immoral etc. Go look at jackets and pants, bet you can't get them at the same price during the winter…if your quoting 5k for install and another 9k, you shouldn't trash talk them , they could be the future company. Growing a crew. Adding inventory and providing jobs for techs, plumbers and electricians.

    I often see the unconfident underbidding their jobs and trash talking other companies who charge industry standards. Whoever is bringing down the value of our trade should be rebuked period. You get these customers nowadays purchasing their own equipment, still wanting you to sign of for 10 year warranty and do the job for 1k. Rediclous. Were not janitors. We got a 30k/ 2 year education. 4 year apprenticeship.

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Byron Reyes says:

    I agree with these red flags as I have experienced it with two hvac contractors in the past year. I would add if the contractor keeps missing the start date and does not text or call to let you know he will not come on a certain day after signing a contract and providing the first payment. Thankfully I did better research in the last two weeks and found a company that's been in business for several years and will start to work at the end of this month, if not sooner.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tim says:

    Been getting quotes on a system but it's like pulling teeth to get people to even look at replacing my 20-30 year old system. Guess it's just that busy right now.

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars harleyiron1977 says:

    What’s you average cost for an average complete change out i recently got a 46000$ quote

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars harleyiron1977 says:

    What you average house complete charge out average

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars AD Electronic Teardowns says:

    And also, the worst time to install is busy time or hot summer, if you can wait.

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