In Florida, Contractor Scams are prevalent and you should be on the lookout to prevent getting ripped off.

Whether you own a house, townhouse or a condo, the results can be the same if a contractor is going to cheat you.

There are certain signs to be on the lookout for. These are the main scams that have been found:

- The contractor failed to complete the job contracted for, or did sub-standard or poor quality work.

- The contractor did not complete the job in the timeframe agreed upon. 

- The contractor did not repair or fix items (warrantied) that were not completed as agreed upon.

- The contractor added additional charges that were never contemplated or agreed to.

- The contractor did not pull permits for the agree upon work.

- The contractor did not have inspections by the city or county, or did not final out the permit(s).

- The contractor used sub standard materials or sub contractors to complete the agreed upon work.

In order to help avoid being scammed, you should try to do the following before paying the contractor any money:

- Ask for written estimates, and make sure everything you are going to pay for is included in the estimate, including the permit fees, demolition, and clean up charges.

- Make sure the contractor is insured and licensed in the State of Florida.

- Ask for recent references in your area. Call the references and ask if the people were satisfied with the work, and if there were any issues.

- If there is an association involved, make sure that the contractor applies with the association for approval, especially if any work is to be done to the windows or any portion of the exterior of your property.

- Always get your contract in writing, including any changes or modifications to the original agreement. 

- Read the documents carefully, and if you can, have them reviewed by an attorney.

- If the contractor is giving you a warranty, make sure that it is in writing also. If the contractor has not discussed a warranty, ask about one. Every contractor should be willing to warrant their work.

- If you are buying appliances, make sure that you see the warranty. Also, there is nothing wrong with asking for copies of the contractor's purchase receipts.

- Never pay the full amount up front. Try not to let the contractor get too far ahead of the completed work. If possible, the final payment should not be paid until the work is completed and the contractor closes out all of the permits. Most of the cities and counties have online portals where you can check the status of the permits, or you can always call or visit in person the permit office responsible for your property. Just Google the city and "permit".

Remember, if you suspect that there is a problem, before you make any more payments, get some help. Calling an attorney may be your best option.