Hiring a
Reputable Builder or
Remodeler in
Pennsylvania
If
you are ready to build a
new home or remodel an
existing one, you've
come to the right place.
Doing your research
upfront is the single
most important step that
you can take before
entering into a contract
to have work performed
by a contractor.
Home
building or remodeling
companies are only as
good as their
reputation. Most
companies are in
business to stay and
they can only do so to
the extent that they
have satisfied
customers.
Do your homework
and use this checklist
to help you select a
builder or remodeler.
1 Do
they belong to the
Blair/Bedfor Builders
Association? BBBA
members are respected
professionals in their
communities and have
access to the latest
industry information and
training.
Click on our
member directory to get
a list of our members
and their services.
2 How
long have they been in
business? It takes
three to five years to
establish a financially
sound business.
Our builder members have
been in business for a
minimum of three years
to make application to
our association.
3
Will the builder/remodeler
provide you with names
of previous customers?
Ask these references if
they would hire the
builder/remodeler again.
4
Have you seen their work
- both completed and in
progress?
5 Are
they accessible?
Do they have a permanent
business address and
telephone number?
Remember, you will need
to be in constant
contact with him/her
throughout the
construction project.
6
Will they provide you
with a clearly written
contract?
(More about this
a little later; please
see Home Impovement Law
below)
7 Be
cautious of unusually
low-priced bids.
Always get
more than one bid.
8 Ask
your contractor if
he/she builds to the
Pennsylvania state-wide
building code.
Also, ask if his/her
subcontractors also
build to this code.
Remember, it's
the law.
9 Ask
your contractor to
provide proof of
liability and workers'
compensation insurance.
Have you heard
about the Home
Improvement Consumer
Protection Act?
This
law has been in effect
since July 1, 2009.
It requires all home
improvement contractors
that work in
Pennsylvania to be
registered with the
State Attorney General's
Office.
New home
construction is exempt
from this law.
Anyone who owns or
operates a home
improvement business or
who offers, performs, or
agrees to perform home
improvements in
Pennsylvania
must
register with the Office
of the Attorney General
unless they are
specifically exempt.
Exemptions include: A
contractor that does
less than $5,000 in home
improvements in a
calendar year and Home
Improvement Retailers
with a net worth of
greater than $50 million
dollars. However,
subcontractors and
independent contractors
that perform work for
these retailers
must
be registered.
Some highlights
of this law and what
you, the consumer,
should look for:
1 The
contractor must include
proof of registration,
(PA # registration
number) on all
advertisements
distributed within the
Commonwealth, on all
contracts, estimates,
proposals, on business
cards and vehicles if so
lettered with his/her
name.
2 Any
home improvement work in
excess of $500 must have
a written contract with
some minimal language to
include: contractor
registration number;
signed by both parties;
details the entire
agreement between both
parties; the date of the
transaction; a physical
address and telephone
number of contractor (PO
Boxes do not count);
must contain an
approximate starting
date and completion
date; includes a
description of work to
be performed specifying
materials; includes the
total sales price;
includes the amount of
the down payment; the
names, addresses and
telephone numbers of any
subcontractors that will
be used on the job; must
maintain at least
$50,000 liability
insurance and the
contract must include a
right of rescission
clause to permit
cancellation of said
contract within three
business days.
3
This law also requires
any alterations to the
above stated contract to
be executed only with a
written change
order.
While
this law requires
contractors to register
with the State Attorney
General's Office, it is
not an endorsement of
their honesty or
integrity of work.
To see if your
contractor is
registered, visit
www.attorneygeneral.gov
and also check to see if
any complaints have been
registered against you
contractor.
Any
new home construction or
home remodeling project
is a complicated
process. Members
of the Blair/Bedford
Builders Association
have invested countless
hours to perform their
work in the utmost of
professionalism.
They can guide you
through your project and
are ready and willing to
do so. Once again,
click on our members
directory for a list of
qualified builders,
remodelers, realtors,
banks and retail supply
firms to help guide you
through your next
construction project.
