Remodelers Association Warns About Unlicensed Contractors

April 29, 2009 - PRLog -- It’s been only 2 weeks since tornadoes scoured part of the Tampa Bay landscape, damaging some 40-50 homes.  And, as of today, hurricane season is only 31 days away.  
   For both the owners of the tornado-damaged homes and those at risk during our summer cyclones, the Tampa Chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is offering suggestions that, hopefully, will allow affected homeowners to rebuild without additional headaches.
   First among NARI’s tips is to make sure that any contractor hired to do repairs is licensed by the State of Florida.  It’s free and easy to do:  just go to www.myfloridalicense.com/w111.asp on the Internet or call 850-488-6603 to verify the current status of a contractor’s license.  According to Doug King of Tampa’s West Coast Remodelers and Construction, who is a director of the local NARI chapter, “Homeowners need to beware and be aware of a number of issues that can affect how satisfying their rebuilding project is.  They need to look out for unlicensed and uninsured contractors, who frequently quote low ‘attention getting’ prices, take a deposit and run, don’t complete a job they started, or use sub-standard materials and/or construction techniques.”

    “They also need to know that there are legal and financial consequences for hiring an unlicensed contractor,” King continued.  “In certain instances, the homeowner can be fined for hiring someone who doesn’t hold proper licenses; and, they can also be held liable for the costs of correcting building code violations (done by a rouge contractor), especially if the homeowner has pulled the building permit himself.”   

    The second caution from NARI relates to estimates and contracts.  NARI member construction firms are required, under the group’s Code of Ethics, to provide written estimates and contracts to their customers – something that unlicensed contractors usually won’t do or they are vague in description.  It’s best to try to get at least three estimates for comparison.  King says it’s also important to make sure that all contracts and estimates adequately describe the specific details of the project (materials to be used, special features, etc.) – this can help avoid disputes later on as the job progresses or is completed.

    “3” is the magic number again when it comes to references.  Get at least that many names of previous customers – and, CALL them.  It’s important to have confidence that the contractor will show up as promised, do quality work, stand behind their work and products and correct any deficiencies.

For further information or a list of NARI member firms in the Tampa Bay area, visit the association’s Web site (http://www.nari-tampabay.com) or call the group at (727) 578-2207.

Sidebar:

10 TIPS ON HOME REMODELING/REBUILDING
By Doug King, VP/West Coast Remodelers & Construction Inc.

How can you be sure that the person or firm that you are about to hire is a legitimate business that will not disappear with your deposit or fail to perform the work properly?  Where can you go to do research and check out a prospective contracting company?  Did you know that there are numerous companies and individuals performing contracting work without proper licenses and insurance in the Tampa Bay area?  Did you know, under Florida law, the hiring of an unlicensed and uninsured company offers you no legal protection to get the work completed?

These are among the many questions a homeowner might have if in need of repairs due to the recent storms (or are contemplating remodeling work) in the Tampa Bay area.  There are many answers you should get before you hire a contractor (hiring individual’s or companies that do not have licenses should be avoided at all costs) to make repairs to your home.  There are requirements that contractor’s are required to fulfill, from both the state of Florida and the city or county that you live in.  Below is a must-follow checklist to ensure you are about to hire a legitimate contractor:

1)   Only hire a licensed general contractor – get a copy of the license (and business license); then go to www.myfloridalicense.com/w111.asp or call 850-488-6603 to verify that the contractor’s license is valid and if there are any complaints filed.
2)   Ask for a copy of insurance.  Make sure you are given a copy with a phone number and name to call to verify that the insurance (both Liability and Worker’s Comp) is still in force.
3)   Go to the circuit court’s website of the county you live in.  Perform a search of the public records data base, using the contractor’s name to check background for lawsuits and other activity as related to illegal and/or shoddy construction operations.
4)   Search a data base of well-known construction industry trade groups such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry; www.nari-tampabay.com  727-578-2207  These members adhere to a strict code of ethics and policy procedures and carry proper licensing and insurance as required by law.
5)   Ask for a list of references.  Call these references until you have spoken “live” to at least 3 of them and ask detailed questions about performance, timeliness and workmanship.  Ask if they are a relative of the contractor (contractors who do shoddy work often use relatives as references).
6)   Do not pull your own permit.  If you are asked to pull your own permit, this is a major red flag.  You are then taking the responsibility of code violations and inspections upon yourself and away from the contractor.  You will be held liable for the repairs to correct such violations and a lien may be placed on your property by the city or county until those repairs/violations are corrected.
7)   Get all details in writing.  Make sure anything you want repaired is spelled out in detail, showing specifics of what materials the contractor is supplying, if labor is included and other activities related to the project with full price indicated..
8)   Check with your city or county to make sure all local requirements have been met by the contractor.  For instance, in Pinellas County, any firm performing work must be registered with the Pinellas County Construction Licensing Board and must hold a separate license to be in compliance.  The board ensures that proper licenses and insurance are held by the contractor or firm.  Following are the contact information for counties in the area where you can verify a contractor:

Pinellas – www.pcclb.com 727-531-4784 or 727-536-4720
Hillsborough - www.hillsboroughcounty.org/pgm/resources/onlineservices/contractors
                         813-635-7308 or 813-635-7309
Pasco – From the Westside: (727) 847 - 8009
             From the Eastside: (352) 521 - 4274 x 8009
             From the Central county: (813) 996 - 7341 x 8009

9)   Call the West Florida Better Business Bureau or go online; 727-535-5522
      www.bbbwestflorida.org
10)     Get 3 estimates.  And remember, going with the lowest price is usually the start of a bad home repair/remodel experience.

If you follow the steps above, you will greatly increase your chance at getting your property repaired or remodeled properly to meet all applicable codes, performed with high quality workmanship, finished at a fair price and completed timely.

Report any firm or persons you see or think might be working without licenses, insurance or permits to your local authorities.  Persons working without proper licensing and insurance is a misdemeanor in the State of Florida and carries up to a $25,000 fine and 1 year imprisonment.

Author Doug King can be reached at doug@westcoastremodelers.net or (813) 244-5400

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The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is a not-for-profit trade association with more than 50 years of industry experience and 68 chapters nationwide. NARI is the only national association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry and it’s focus is on professional conduct, continuing education and training, and fair and ethical treatment within the industry. Members of NARI are full service contractors, design-build firms, product manufacturers, suppliers, subcontractors, lenders and other related professionals who work in the remodeling field. Each member has pledged a commitment to high standards of practice and to abide by NARI’s strict Code of Ethics. The association is committed to enhancing the professionalism of the remodeling industry and serving as an ally to homeowners.