There are Chucks-in-trucks preying on customers all over the Houston Area. They hope that you might be their next victim, that they can take your money and run. If they do your work at all, it's seldom if ever done right. With a very small amount of time and effort, you can protect yourself from becoming their next victim.

Following is a list of things you can and should do before and during your interaction(s) with any contractor you are considering hiring:

• Ask for work references -- good contractors have plenty.
• Take pictures of the individual, their vehicle, and license plate.
• Soundly document all transactions, especially cash.

If you do these simple things, in addition to insuring that all your needs and the contractor's scope are in writing, you have protected yourself well from getting ripped off. Specifically, if you are dealing with a fence contractor for a wood fence, ask if they build with screws or use nails/brads. If they don't use screws, your fence isn't going to last more than a few years.

"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over the present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm." -- Ephesians 6:11-13 (ESV)