homeimprovement.contractors

When Something Goes Wrong between you and the
Home Contractor
If you have a contract dispute or if you think that the job was done in a shoddy or unworkmanlike manner, explore the following options:
  • Mediation: This allows both parties to reach a mutually agreeable resolution with the help of a facilitator. Mediation is voluntary, requiring both parties’ consent. You may apply for mediation through your local consumer group, which is affiliated with the Attorney General’s Office.
  • Arbitration: You may be eligible for state-approved arbitration under the Home Improvement Arbitration Program. To qualify you must be able to prove that:
    • there was a written contract for the job
    • the home improvement contractor was registered at the time of the contract
    • the work was done on a 1-4 family, owner-occupied, primary residence in Massachusetts.

If you obtained your own building permit, you may be eligible for arbitration (if other qualifications are satisfied), but you may not be eligible for payment from Guaranty Fund. If the contractor failed to include the permit notice in the contract and you meet other qualifications, you may have access to the Guaranty Fund.

A professional, neutral arbitrator hears the case with both parties present and makes a legally binding decision. Either party may appeal the decision in court within 21 days.

A contractor with a dispute against a homeowner may initiate an arbitration action only if both parties agree to it in the contract. However, a contractor may have a counterclaim settled by an arbitrator if the homeowner has initiated the arbitration action.

  • Court Action: You may also pursue your claim through the court system. For claims under $2,000, small claims court is the least costly alternative. Consumer Affairs published a Consumer’s Guide to Small Claims Court, available upon request. Larger claims may be more suitable to District or Superior Court. You should seek legal advice for all claims.

 

After You Win a Judgment or Award over the
Contractor
If you win your case in arbitration or in court and the home contractor fails to pay the award or judgment, you can apply to the Home Improvement Contractor Guaranty Fund for up to $10,000 of your actual losses. The Guaranty Fund was created as a fund of last resort for consumers who have an unpaid final judgment against a contractor. The Guaranty Fund is funded by a one time fee that contractors are required to pay at the time of registration.

After a consumer is paid from the Guaranty Fund, the responsible registered home contractor is obligated to reimburse the Fund with interest within 30 days. Failure to repay the Fund may result in administrative fines, revocation of the contractor’s registration, and in extreme cases, criminal prosecution.

To apply to the Fund, you must file a claim application within six months of the court judgment date or arbitration award. You must also demonstrate that all reasonable efforts to collect the judgment have been exhausted, as defined by state regulations (201 CMR 14.00).

How to Access the Guaranty Fund:

To qualify for payment from the Fund, a homeowner must be able to prove that:

  • There was a contract for the job.
  • The contractor was registered with the Board of Building Regulations and Standards at the time of the contract.
  • The contractor — not the homeowner — secured the building permit (with some exceptions).
  • The contract was for work on a pre-existing 1-4 family residence in Massachusetts that is the owner’s primary residence.
  • A court judgment or arbitration award in the homeowner’s favor has been issued, and all "reasonable efforts to collect" the judgment or award have been exhausted.
  • A Fund application was filed within six months of the arbitration award or court judgment.

 


Home Improvement Contractors

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Looking for trusted
home improvement contractors?

Are you planning a major home improvement project in the near future? If your answer is “yes,” you’re probably in the market for a contractor. Finding the right professional to handle such a project can be tricky. Trickier still is getting a great job at a fair price.

Every year, consumers spend millions of dollars on home improvements. Far too often, unsuspecting homeowners are cheated by home improvement contractors. In 1992, the Home Improvement Contractor Law  was created to protect consumers and regulate the practices of home improvement contractors.

The law establishes a contractor registration requirement, an arbitration program for resolving disputes between homeowners and registered contractors and creates a Guaranty Fund to compensate consumers up to $10,000 for unpaid judgments against home improvement contractors. Remodeling and improving your home can be a huge undertaking. Fortunately, by understanding your rights under the law and taking a few precautions, you can help avoid potential problems. Be sure to plan carefully before investing thousands of dollars into home improvements.

Few important techniques for
home improvement contractors:
When possible, choose a contractor through personal recommendations. Try to get referrals from friends or neighbors who have had similar work done. You can also find prescreened local contractors through online services

After you’ve put together a short list, call and pre-qualify several contractors. Be sure each person is licensed and insured for worker’s compensation, property damage, and personal liability. From each contractor, request names and phone numbers of a few satisfied customers. Call those references and ask to see the contractor’s work. Don’t be shy. Most people who’ve recently remodeled are proud to show off their homes and, if they like the contractor, they’ll go out of their way to help him or her secure another job.

From at least three contractor candidates, request a formal bid based on exactly the same plans and specifications. Don’t automatically choose the lowest bid. If one bid is seriously lower than the others, be suspicious of inexperience or desperation (the latter isn’t necessarily a problem). Generally speaking, if a bid looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Chemistry with your contractor is critical--this person may be in your midst for several months, and there may be times when you have to haggle about difficult issues. Ask whether your job will be the only one on their plate or whether they’ll be managing multiple projects at the same time. Find out whether the contractor will be on site to supervise your job or hand it off to a foreman.

When you’ve made a selection, ask to see his or her contractor’s license and double-check insurance coverage.

Before You Begin the Project
  • Think about the specific design you want (consult an home improvement contractor or designer if necessary) and decide on a budget.
  • Think about the materials you want to use. Visit home improvement centers, read magazines featuring distinctive home designs, or talk to others who have completed similar renovations.
  • Clearly describe the work you want done in a specification sheet and floor plan for potential contractors. When all contractors who bid on a job work from the same design description, there is more likely to be a complete and accurate bidding process.
  • Contact a professional building industry association for advice on the home improvement process, including the selection of a contractor.

Before You Hire a
Contractor

Selecting a contractor is the most important part of the home renovation process. You should always:

  • Interview at least three contractors and request a written, detailed estimate.
  • Check with the Board of Building Regulations and Standards to make sure that the contractor or subcontractor you hire is currently registered with the state.

If the contractor or subcontractor is not registered, you will not be protected by the Home Improvement Contractor Law. However, there may be other remedies available to you through the court system.

There are some exceptions to the registration requirement. Contractors who do not need to be registered include installers or providers of central heating and air conditioning, energy conservation devices, landscaping, interior painting, wall and floor coverings, fencing, freestanding masonry walls, above ground pools, shutters, awnings, ground level patios, driveways and certain licensed professionals such as architects, electricians and plumbers who provide services that are exclusively within the scope of their profession. Additionally, some part-time and small job (under $500) contractors do not need to be registered.

Registered contractors must display their six-digit registration number on all advertisements, contracts and permits. Wherever you see the company or contractor’s name displayed, you should also find a registration number nearby. The state issues an identification card to all registered contractors. Ask to see it in order to verify that the registration is valid and has not expired. If you discover that a home contractor is not registered, contact the Attorney General’s Office to report this illegal act.

  • Confirm references for each home improvement contractor. Look at the jobs the contractor has completed. Contact the other homeowners who have hired the home contractor and find out
    if they have had any problems. Check the contractor’s complaint history with the Attorney General’s Office or the Better Business Bureau. You can contact Consumer Affairs to find out if there have been arbitration cases or Guaranty Fund claims against the contractor.

Before You Sign a Contract with
Contractor

At this point, you and your contractor should agree upon a written contract and both of you should sign it. The contract should include
• Both of your names and addresses and details of all work to be performed. Don’t forget to specify who will be responsible for demolition, cleanup, and trash collection. Be sure your plans are thought through completely. It’s fair for a home contractor to charge you for changes and modifications that are not in the plans, particularly those changes that will require more work or more expensive materials. Charges for changes and extras can send your budget though the roof.

• Materials. When specifying materials, avoid the term “or equal” unless it is clear that substitutions can’t be made without your approval. If you agree to a separate budget for items you haven’t selected yet, such as plumbing fixtures or floor coverings, be sure the budget figure is high enough to cover their costs. Do your homework; go to a home improvement center to price the fixtures and finishes you want.

• Payments and dates. Be sure to include a completion date and details on when and how payments will be made to contractor. Never pay more money than enough to cover work completed and materials delivered to the job—it’s okay to request copies of invoices for the latter. If the home improvement contractor requests a deposit before starting work, do not pay more than 10 percent or $1000, whichever is lower. Make additional payments as the work progresses. This gives the contractor continual incentives and protects you from the possibility of a contractor disappearing after you’ve made early payments. Remember: money is your only leverage for getting things done.

Don’t sign a completion statement or make the final payment until the job has passed final inspection. Be aware that materials suppliers or subcontractors who are owed money by your contractor can place a lien against your property. You can protect yourself from this by adding a release-of-lien clause to your contract or asking for proof of payment by your contractor. Another somewhat expensive option is to issue a portion of your payments to an escrow account to be held until the work is completed.

Always ask for a detailed written contract, even for small projects. It will protect you and help ensure that you and the home contractor understand the scope of the job and the price. State law requires that home improvement contracts over $1,000 be in writing. If contractors violate this provision, their registration may be suspended or revoked, and they can be fined or face criminal prosecution. Consumer Affairs can provide you with a sample contract.

Be sure the contract contains:

  • the identification of the contractor, including the contractor’s registration number;
  • total price of the work;
  • the payment schedule;
  • a provision for changes or "extras";
  • a detailed list of specifications/materials;
  • start and completion dates;
  • a copy of the contractor’s insurance;
  • a permit notice warning you that if you secure your own building permit or deal with unregistered home contractors, you  will not be eligible for the Guaranty Fund;
  • a 3-day cancellation notice, informing you of your right to cancel your contract if you signed the agreement in your home, or at a place other than at the contractor’s office or business; and
  • other details particular to your job.

Be sure the contractor obtains the building permit. If you apply for the permit, you may not be eligible for compensation from the Guaranty Fund.

By law, the home improvement contractor cannot collect more than one-third of the cost of the contract in advance, unless special order materials are needed.

If you are financing your home improvements, be aware that contractors are not allowed to lend you the money, or act in association with any lending institution if the loan is secured by a mortgage on your home. Similarly, a contractor cannot offer you financing with a specific lender if your home is used as collateral. You have the right to choose any lender who is willing to negotiate your loan. Get a cost estimate from the contractor for the work that needs to be done, and then shop around for the best financing option.

 

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