FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                            March 24, 2008

WITH HOME IMPROVEMENT SEASON HERE, COUNTY  RENEWS EFFORTS
 TO CRACK DOWN ON UNLICENSED CONTRACTORS  

            The arrival of spring means the home improvement season is underway, so County Executive Andy Spano is reminding consumers to be sure that their contractor is licensed as required by law. 

         The county has a zero-tolerance approach toward unlicensed contractors and will use all available means   to drive them from the county.

         "Unlicensed contractors are a scourge, and operating without a home improvement license is a misdemeanor in Westchester County,” Spano said.  “Let the unlicensed contractor beware, we will seize their property if necessary.”

         Inspectors from the Department of Consumer Protection will fan out across the county looking for unlicensed contractors. They will go to work sites, interview homeowners and participate with local police departments in vehicle and traffic stops. They will also monitor local newspapers and check for advertisements placed by unlicensed contractors. The department will also utilize the new county law that authorizes the seizure and impound of vehicles and tools used by unlicensed contractors.  

Home improvement complaints are the number one consumer complaint in Westchester. While hiring a licensed contractor is no guarantee of customer satisfaction, many of the most serious complaints – shoddy, substandard work or failure to perform any work at all – involve unlicensed contractors.

All home improvement contractors in Westchester – including roofers, driveway pavers, landscapers, tile setters, chimney sweeps, fence installers, exterior painters, masons, and persons who install or repair exterior siding, decks, windows, doors and swimming pools – must be licensed. To qualify for a license, contractors must pass a background check, have adequate insurance and supply proof of financial responsibility.  Any history of unresolved consumer complaints is also considered.                               

Spano urged consumers to do their homework before hiring a home improvement contractor. First check with the consumer department to make sure that the contractor has a license. Go to www.westchestergov.com/consumer  or call the department at 995-2211. There are presently 7,200 on that list. The Web site also has a list of “renegade renovators” (contractors that homeowners should avoid). Licensed home improvement contractors must display a green sticker on the rear bumper of their vehicles. The sticker states the expiration date of the license.

Gary Brown, the county's director of Consumer Protection, said the department will be vigilant in following up on complaints and will take action against home contractors who operate without a license or who violate the terms of their contracts. Brown said residents should check with the department on the license status and complaint record of a contractor.

   Brown added, “If you have a problem with a contractor, you don’t have to fight it alone.  In many cases, intervention by our office can resolve the matter.”

What every home improvement contract must include: 

§ The full name, address and telephone number of the contractor.  

§ The contractor's license number.

§ The approximate start date and completion date for the work.

§ A notice which states that the customer has the unconditional right to cancel the contract until midnight of the third business day after the contract was signed.

Tips for consumers:

§ Get written estimates and three current references from at least three contractors. 

§ Don’t just call the references. See for yourself by visiting homes where the contractor has done work. 

§ Agree on a schedule of payments.

§ Be sure that everything is in writing including a complete description of the work and materials, including brands, model numbers and other identifying information, along with the price.

§ Be wary of unsolicited phone calls and door-to-door sales.

§ Be wary of any “special prices” that are too good to be true.

§ Be suspicious of any contractor who just “happens” to be in the neighborhood.

§ Supervise the project as much as possible.

§ Take pictures of the job in progress.

§ If possible, pay by credit card, which gives you additional protection in case there’s a problem.

§ Get extra materials such as tiles, siding, paint and wallpaper so you can make repairs at a later date and don’t have to worry about finding the right match.  

            A brochure on selecting a home improvement contractor is available from the Department of Consumer Protection at (914) 995-2155 or at www.westchestergov.com/consumer. A video about hiring a contractor is also available on the Web site.