Guide to Home Improvement
Plan and know what you want to be done before contacting a contractor or architect. Consider your budget, the possibility of short-term disruption to your living environment, and the time frame you want the improvements completed. Beware of "door-to-door" solicitors trying to sell you something you don't want or need.
Be sure your contractor obtains the necessary building permits from your local jurisdiction. If you are unsure your project needs a permit, call the Nevada County Building Department at (530) 265-1222, or the City of Grass Valley at (530) 274-4340. The permit will ensure that your project is inspected by qualified building personnel; they will verify that your project is built to current building codes-this is for your safety and protection.
Once your approved plans are drawn, consider bringing them to the Nevada County Contractors' Association for competitive bids by our members. This process usually takes about a month. It ensures that you will receive low bids properly evaluated by contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers.
When selecting a contractor or subcontractor, ask for references and verify that the State of California licenses them. The Nevada County Contractors' Association requires all contractor members to be licensed, but you should verify this yourself.
A Resource Guide for Homeowners
Know the right questions to ask before beginning a home improvement project.
Get at least three bids and ask for references for work the contractor has completed in the local area.
Contact the people provided as references by the bidding contractor and ask questions to help you decide whether the contractor you are considering hiring will satisfy your needs. This takes time but saves money and aggravation in the long run.
Do not pay cash, do not let the payments get ahead of the work completed, and do not pay the total cost of the job up-front.
Under state law, when undertaking a home improvement or repair job, contractors cannot ask for a deposit of more than 10% of the total cost of the job or $1,000, whichever is less... unless the contractor provides a bond, approved bond equivalent, or approved joint control ensuring completion of your contract. Any such bond is in addition to the bond required of all contractors for licensure.
Require a written contract with the contractor's license number, and do not sign until you fully understand the terms. Remember, if it's in the contract, you can expect to have it done. If it's not there, even with a verbal promise, you may not get what you think you are paying for.
When you call the Contractors Board to check on the contractor, be prepared with the contractor's name, license number, and business address.
Home improvement and repair projects have provided scam artists opportunities to profit from other people's loss and suffering!
Please do not rush into the repairs, no matter how badly they are needed!
Do not hire the first contractor who comes along.
Do not be victimized by someone making a door-to-door presentation, offering repair jobs or home improvement on the spot, and requiring a cash deposit. An enterprising contractor may take the door-to-door approach. However, even on the most minor job, you must get proof that the person you are dealing with has a contractor's license in the trade for which you expect to have the work done. Get a written contract that contains all the details of the job to be performed. The buyer has the right to cancel a home solicitation contract or offer until midnight of the third business day after the day on which the buyer signs an agreement or offer to purchase.
Ask for the contractor's "pocket license" or Home Improvement Sales (HIS) registration. All contractors are issued pocket licenses showing the type of trade for which they are licensed and the license's expiration date. Ask to see some additional form of identification, so you know who you are dealing with. If the person says he or she is representing a contractor but cannot show you a contractor's license or HIS registration, then call the contractor and find out if the person you are dealing with is authorized to act on behalf of the contractor.
Deal only with licensed contractors. Consumers have very little, if any, recourse against unlicensed contractors. You can do more to protect yourself from problems with contractors than the Contractors State License Board can do to help you after you have been harmed.
What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor
The Contractors State License Board has offices throughout California.
For the phone number and address of the office nearest you, call the Board's toll-free, automated phone number:
1-800-321-CSLB (In Sacramento, 916-327-9707)
The Contractors State License Board has produced two outstanding, easy-to-read publications to help consumers properly plan for and make informed decisions about dealing with contractors:
"What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor" contains 34 pages with all you need to:
Select a reputable and qualified contractor.
Negotiate a clear contract.
Prevent disputes with the contractor.
Resolve disputes when they arise.
A Consumer Guide To Asbestos - is a 12-page booklet containing information to help building owners identify asbestos and the precautions needed to prevent harmful asbestos exposure when planning for and undertaking its removal.
This booklet also describes the steps a company should take to remove asbestos.
The Nevada County Contractors' Association can tell you if your contractor is licensed, in good standing, and in the proper classification to fit your needs. If you do not already have a contractor, visit the NCCA Member Directory to find one that fits your needs.
COMPLAINT DISCLOSURE
Upon request, the Contractors State License Board provides information about a licensed contractor's license and bond status and pending and prior legal actions. If you want information about a contractor's license status, please call the Board's toll-free telephone number, 1-800-321-CSLB, or visit the Contractors State License Board Website.
If you would like information about a contractor's license history and pending or prior legal actions, please call the appropriate Region Office's Complaint Disclosure phone numbers:
Northern Region Office 916-255-4041
Central Region Office 818-543-4735
Southern Region Office 714-994-7450
You may violate State and Federal law and subject to unlimited liability, withholdings and social security taxes, disability, and unemployment insurance if the people you have working on your property are unable to provide you with the following:
A current certificate of workers' compensation insurance.
A valid California Contractor's License.
A City Business License (in most cities).
An Employer's Tax Identification Number.
A licensed contractor provides these services to you for your protection. In addition, licensed contractors are required to have on file with the Contractors State License Board a $5,000 bond. This is further protection for you during and after the construction of your home improvement project.
Use of unlicensed, uninsured, and unbonded contractors can put you and your property in jeopardy. YOU could be held financially responsible for injured workers or damage to property (yours and others) if proper insurance protection is not in place.
Don't Put Your Property at Risk!
Be Sure to Use Only Licensed California Contractors.
DO NOT USE UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS.
Through your written Home Improvement Contract with your Licensed Contractor, you have agreed to pay for the work you want done promptly. California law requires you to honor your payment obligations to your contractor; if contractors are not paid for their work, the law allows them to place a lien on your property to help them secure their payments under their contract.
In addition, you should be aware that any subcontractor or supplier hired by your general contractor or subcontractor must notify you in writing that they are working on or supplying materials to your property. This notice is called a "Preliminary 20-day Notice" and should be sent to you by certified mail within 20 days of the first starting work or supplying materials to your property. If a subcontractor or supplier fails to send you this notice on time, the law does not permit them to record a mechanics' lien against your property if they fail to get paid by the contractor who hired them.
The 20-day notice is meant to inform you which subcontractors and suppliers (whom you did not hire directly and would not otherwise know about) are working or supplying materials to your property. You should require your general contractor to get lien releases from all subcontractors and suppliers who sent you a preliminary notice and have done work on your project whenever you pay your contractor.
Preliminary Notices & Mechanics Liens
Feel free to call the Nevada County Contractors' Association staff anytime!
The Nevada County Contractors' Association is a professional non-profit association of general contractors and sub-contractors, building material suppliers, and many other construction-related businesses in Nevada County. The State of California must license contractor members of the Association. Over 340 members of the Association represent all aspects of the construction industry.
In addition to serving the interests of the construction community, the NCCA is also a valuable resource for consumers. The Nevada County Contractors' Association is staffed with professionals who understand the unique aspects of the construction industry.