Most contractors in Western New York are honest people who do good work. The trouble usually starts not with a bad contractor but with a handshake deal, a vague quote or a big payment up front. A few minutes of paperwork before the work starts protects you and a good contractor alike.
1. A written contract
New York law requires a written, signed contract for home improvement work, and Erie County's consumer protection office tells homeowners to expect one for any job over $500. It should show:
- the contractor's name, address, phone number and license number if they need one
- what exactly will be done, and with what materials
- the price
- the approximate start and finish dates
2. Your three days to cancel
The contract must tell you that you can cancel until midnight of the third business day after you sign. If that notice isn't in the paperwork, ask why.
3. A plan for your deposit
Under state law, a contractor must keep payments made before the work is finished in an escrow account, or post a bond or similar guarantee instead. Ask how your deposit will be held, and be wary of anyone who wants most of the money before starting.
4. The right license, where your town requires one
There's no county-wide contractor license in Erie County. Instead, some municipalities license contractors themselves, including the City of Buffalo, the Towns of Amherst, Elma and Tonawanda, the City of Tonawanda and the Village of Kenmore. In Buffalo, plumbing, heating and electrical work need their own separate licenses. Your town or village building department can tell you what applies where you live, and in Niagara County, your city, town or village is the place to ask.
5. Proof of insurance
Ask for a certificate of insurance, sent to you directly by the contractor's insurance company, not a photocopy, and check the dates. If someone is hurt on your property, you don't want to find out afterward that the policy lapsed.
6. More than one quote, in writing
Two or three written quotes for the same job tell you what the work should cost and who actually listened to what you asked for. The lowest number isn't always the best deal, and a quote that's far below the others deserves a question.
And one thing to skip
Never pay the full price before the job is done.
If something goes wrong, Erie County's Division of Consumer Protection publishes a free guide to your rights on home improvement projects, and takes complaints.