Avoid Asphalt Scams Simply And Easily: What You Need To Know

Every year the police issue warnings to avoid asphalt scams, and the newspapers publish the warning. Rarely do they actually give you any idea on how to hire a reputable driveway sealing company. Let us go over exactly how to be sure that you are hiring the right people to seal asphalt, and not being taken advantage of.

Make A Phone Call Or Two

Any company should have a phone number, so call it. You can tell a lot about how the phone is answered, and whether they are willing to answer your questions on how much it costs. Don’t hesitate to ask for references. The easiest way to avoid asphalt scams is to see work they have completed, and talk to their customers. Any reputable driveway sealing company will be happy to do this.

Social Media Tip: If they have Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, website, etc. check it out. Look at the comments people have made. Also a quick internet search on the company name can tell you a lot!

Myth #1: Asphalt Companies Will Never Go Door-To-Door

This is absolutely a myth. Both good, and bad, contractors will come to your door. It’s the easiest way to find new customers, and save time and money on travel costs. As a result, they will quite often offer a discount to “do it now”. So how do you tell the good from the bad? Avoid asphalt scams by talking to the customer they’re serving now. Have they used them before? Make that call to home office, and ask for references. Most of all, a reputable driveway sealing company will not pressure you to do it “now or never”. They may even offer to keep the discount if you can get 3 or 4 of your neighbors to have it done one day in the near future.

Myth #2: Upselling Is A Sure Sign Of A Crook

Actually, so untrue it’s not even funny. A reputable driveway sealing company will tell you right up front that any cracks or potholes in your asphalt should be repaired before asphalt sealing. Otherwise, those damaged areas will just get worse every day, and damage the very foundation of your driveway. To avoid asphalt scams, never hire anyone who tells you they can just asphalt seal over the cracks.

Shiny Is Not Good

When they go door-to-door, that usually means you can see where they are working. If the sealer is drying shiny and glossy, that’s a very bad sign. Good quality asphalt sealer should dry a flat, black matte. Shiny is slippery and will not endure.

To learn more about quality asphalt sealer click here.

Protect yourself, and make sure you are hiring a reputable driveway sealing company. Make a couple of phone calls, and look on the web, to verify their reputation. Do not be put off by a door-to-door company, or one that tries to up-sell you. That’s what they should be doing. Look at their work and make sure it isn’t shiny. That’s the easiest and best way to avoid asphalt scams, but if you want to know more, click here to use our Checklist.