Gregory J. Gallo
With the soft housing market, would-be sellers are holding onto their homes, and instead, many are improving or expanding them while waiting out the market “correction.” If you are figuring on hiring a home improvement contractor, read on.
What You Should Know
Must be Licensed Complaints for home improvement contractors are numerous. In fact, the Department of Consumer Protection (DCP) has an entire section devoted to home improvement on its website: http://www.ct.gov/dcp. Home improvement contractors must be registered with DCP. The registration number will appear on advertising and contracts. You can check the registration status and complaint frequency by visiting both the DCP and the Better Business Bureau websites.
Must be Insured
An established contractor will be insured and will have no problem showing you a certificate of insurance. Verify that they are insured for the type of work they will perform.
Know What You Want
A contractor is not a designer You must spell out what you want done. If you are not good at descriptions, take pictures or bring pages from magazines to show the contractor what you want and where you want it. Eliminate any guesswork.
The Contract
These contracts are regulated by law. Each contract must be in writing and contain: The contractor’s registration number; the start and finish dates of all work; a clear statement of your right to cancel the contract within 3 business days (Saturday is a business day); the signatures of both the owner and the home improvement contractor; and the terms of the deal Include as many details as possible. If you decide on extras later on, put that in writing as well.
When All Else Fails
Should the contractor not show up for 30-days, you may request a refund. Failure to refund you money subjects the contractor to criminal and administrative penalties. Assuming the worst, you might qualify for reimbursement under Home Improvement Guaranty Fund, available through the DCP.
A good contractor is always worth the extra money. A bad contractor could cost you thousands of extra dollars, expose your home liens, and waste hours of your time.
Gregory J. Gallo, is an attorney with Pellegrino Law Firm in New Haven.
(203) 787-2225
gjg@pellegrinolawfirm.com
