Knoxville, TN (WOKI / WVLT) Experts say home improvement projects pick up in the spring, but so do scams.

Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti says if you’re considering hiring a contractor, you want to watch out for fraudulent contractors.

“Home improvement scams top the list of consumer complaints received by our Division of Consumer Affairs,” Skrmetti said. “If you’re planning to renovate this spring, make sure your contractor really is licensed and bonded—don’t take their word for it. Do your due diligence before you trust anyone with your money.”

The Board of Licensing Contractors got 884 complaints in 2024 and handed out more than $990,000 in civil penalties from nearly 300 of those complaints; they suggest doing your own research before hiring a contractor to include checking the status of a contractor’s or a businesses’ license through  Verify.tn.gov.

The office warned of some red flags to watch out for: door-to-door sales, high-pressure sales tactics like short-time deals and demanding full payment up front.

To file a complaint about the license of a contractor or home improvement company, you can do so on the board’s website.

To file a complaint about a deceptive business practice, you can do so with the Division of Consumer Affairs.