With the summer season approaching, many people in Florida might be in the process of hiring contractors to complete work during this time. Unfortunately, when there is an uptick in requests for contractors, shady people come out and try to take the jobs. Not only is this illegal, but it can also lead to a nightmare for you to try to clean up.

There are several things that might signal a shady contractor or even a person who is faking being a contractor when they actually have no valid contractor license. When you notice any of these signs, it might be time to bid adieu to the contractor.

Before hiring them, you should be concerned if they offer you a price that is much lower than other bids you’ve gotten. This could be a sign that they are using shoddy materials or subpar methods. You should also be worried if they won’t submit a detailed, written bid and provide you with a contract prior to beginning work. Trying to handle the entire process over the phone is another sign that something is wrong. Contractors need to see the job to be able to provide a valid bid for you.

You should also be skeptical if a contractor won’t provide any references. There is a good chance that the person hasn’t made their previous clients happy. Most reputable contractors are glad to share references of happy customers.

Once you have hired a contractor, you might need to fire them if they are constantly missing deadlines, doing subpar work or not communicating freely. In this case, you need to consult the contract — if there is one — to find out what you can do. In some cases, you will need to take legal action.