June 2, 2011 -- A driveway paving company making the rounds in Briarcliff was charged last month with operating a home improvement business without a Westchester County license. The company last week paid a $5,000 fine plus the costs of impounding and storing the vehicles.
Construction equipment from the contractor, Shanon Paving & Masonry Inc, using a Fishkill address, was seized by inspectors from the county's Department of Consumer Protection, with the assistance of the county's Department of Public Safety and Briarcliff Manor police. The seized equipment included a pickup truck, trailer and a bobcat front loader.
Westchester County law requires all home improvement contractors to have a county license. There are currently more than 7,500 licensed contractors in Westchester (Go to www.consumer.westchestergov.com for a full list of licensed contractors or call 995-2155.)
The law was enacted to prevent homeowners from being taken advantage of by fly-by-night companies. It also protects legitimate contractors, who are licensed and insured and have worked successfully in the county for years.
"Consumers should be wary of fly-by-night companies," said John Gaccione, acting director of the consumer department. "Their price may be low, but their work is usually inferior and they often disappear after payment."
The county offers these tips for hiring a home improvement contractor:
- Avoid unlicensed contractors. To find out if a contractor is licensed you can check online at http.www.consumer.westchestergov.com
- Avoid contractors who show up at your doorstep unannounced or contact you through telemarketing.
- Avoid contractors who demand payment in cash or want more than one-third of the total payment before work has begun.
- Get at least three estimates, especially if the job is big. In assessing the estimates, do not always go with the low bidder. A higher price may be worth it if the contractor is the most experienced, will use better materials, will do a better job, and keep to a timeline.
- Be wary of an extremely low bid. It may be an indication that the contractor is overeager for your business, made a mistake in preparing the bid or is not including all the work quoted by the other bidders.
- Ask each contractor for references, and call the references to see if they were satisfied with the work. Also, see for yourself by visiting the homes where the contractor has done work.
- Once you've decided on a contractor, insist on a written contract that sets forth all important details of the job. Do NOT agree to an oral contract.