How to Select and

Pre-screen a Home Improvement Contractor

Brought to you by:

Massachusetts Federation of Building Officials

Inset Community Name

Goal• Assisting senior citizens to remain safe and

independent as they choose to stay in their homes

• Help find and pre-screen contractors that;

• provide basic home renovations

• maintenance

• adaptive services

How to find a contractor

1) check with your local Chamber of Commerce

2) check with the Better Business Bureau

3) check with friends and relatives for personal contractor recommendations

Step 1

Decide precisely what you need to

have done

Step 2When interviewing a contractor follow these

steps

• Contact at least three contractors

• Communicate your ideas

• Get written estimates

Step 3Contractor check list

• Contractors must be registered with The Attorney General’s Office as a Home Improvement Contractor

• Must have the appropriate Contractor’s Supervisors License for the work to be done: Issued by the Department of Public Safety

• Always ask for:

• 1) Copies of the contractors Construction Supervisors License

• 2) HIC (home improvement contractor) registration

• 3) Insurance affidavits

Step 3 continued

• Check to make sure the information given is valid

• Check for complaints against contractor: by contacting the following agencies

• The Massachusetts Consumer Guide to Home Improvement: www.mass.gov/ocabr/comsumer-rights-and-resources/home-improvement-contract

• DPS Construction Supervisor License Look-Up: www.mass.gov/eopss/agencies/dps/dps-license-lookup.html

• Better Business Bureau www.boston.bbb.org/business

Step 4• Always ask for and call references

• Ask to see past work

• Be wary of contractor’s bid who seem too low or too high

• Always ask to explain his or her bid

• Never hire anyone with whom you feel uncomfortable

Step 5

• Contractors must have the appropriate Insurance coverages (you want to protect your assets)

• Workman’s compensation policy for their employees

• Personal liability insurance

Step 6Any work over $1,000 requires a contract between

the property owner and the contractor

• The contract should have at least:

• The Contractors HIC Registration Number & registered business name

• Total Price of project

• Detailed description of the work to be performed

• Detailed payment schedule

• Signatures and dates of both parties involved

• All change orders that modify the contract must be written and signed by both parties

Step 7• Under Mass General Law 142A

section 2: “Contractors are required to apply for all building permits which are subject to The Home Improvement Registration Law”

• A contractor must apply for and receive a building permit before any work begins.

• Contractor should not be asking Homeowners to apply for building permits in there own name.

Step 8 Tips on payment terms

• Contractors cannot demand more then 1/3 of the contract price as a deposit unless the project involves a special order or custom made material

• Avoid situations where payment exceeds the work performed, structure payments with performance benchmarks

• Contractors cannot require the final payment before the project is completed to your satisfaction

• Make sure your local Building Department has signed off on your project before making final payment

Step 9• Maintain a folder to hold all documentation regarding your project

• Notes

• Phone conversations with dates

• Payments

• Change orders

• Photographs

• All communication

Step 10

• If you have a question or a problem with a contractor:

• The Attorney General’s Office oversees local consumer groups who may be able help resolve disputes between you and the contractor without any addition cost to you.

• Call the Elder Consumer Hotline at 888-243-5337 to see if you qualify for mediation or arbitration

Any questions, or need more

information, contact your local Building

Department