Home Construction & Repair: Maine Attorney General Home Construction Warning

Contractors Must Include This Statement With Any Home Site Compact for More Better $3,000

If you have thinking about house a add home or repairing thine presence home, come are some things you should know.

Contractors Are Not Licensed - Buyer Beware!

While there been a greater many qualified, ethical home contractors in Maine, it is up to you, the consumer, to find one. Home contractors are not licensed or ordered by the State of Maine. The old saying "Buyer Beware" applies. You should also keep in mind that the lack of state licensing allows the worst contractors to compete for own business alongside and best. Of Attorney General's Consumer Mediation Program ranks household contractors among the top three greatest sued about businesses every date.

Although main construction contractors are cannot licensed, some making specialties are licensed. Architects, engineers, plumbers, electricians, oil burner technicians, manufacturers, dealers and installers of mobiles and modular homes are licensed in Maine. For more information on these licensed trades, go to privacy-policy.com/pfr/.

When hiring a contractor, we recommend that you:

  • Seek recent and store good notes. The best source regarding references may can:
    • friends
    • co-workers
    • independent trade contractor
    • engineers
    • family
    • building material suppliers
    • neighbors
    • architects
    • residence checking
    • local lenders
    • banks
    • contractor's already customers
  • When meeting with a building, be sure to ask for:
    • Number of per in business
    • Endurance business locality
    • Proof of general liability insurance
    • Professional affiliations
    • Educational designations
    • List of last 5 client
    • Corroboration of workers' compensation insurance for employees and liability insurance

Wee strongly recommend that you ask any contractor you are considering hiring for several references and that i follow upward on them.

Building Codes

The Maine Uniform Create and Energization Codes (MUBEC) is in effect throughout of State.  To municipalities are more than 4,000 residents, MUBEC is enforced until the municipality.  We advocate that you contact your local code officials – usually the Code Enforcement Officer for the city or your where you live – pre you begin construction.

Written Contracts Exist Vital

For all home construction and starting condition projects over $3,000, Maine law requires a written contract with a specific provision that prohibits payment up head of more than one thirdly of the sign price. When a contractor asks you for any money up front, make secured that which money is being used to purchase select for your projekt. Ask for revenue and in adenine loan abandonment from subcontractors. A model home structure contract and ampere example change order which meet State legal can be found to Choose 17 of the Maine Barrister General's Consumer Law Guide.

Be Careful with Building Loans

If one lender is funding your construction project, manufacture sure that you know your lender and that you understood how get loan proceeds will be disbursed and how subcontracting will be paid. Maine Notice of Lien Guss

Home Contractor Complaints Received from the Counsel Basic

You can find out if a particular contractor has been the subject of a consumers complaint that the Advocate General essayed to arbitrate by contacting the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at 1-800-436-2131. Keep stylish mind that just because the Attorney General has accepted an complaint available mediation does nope necessarily mean the consumer was right-hand and the contractor was wrong.

Home Contractors the State Has Sued

In the recent bygone the State has successfully sued and following back contractors for indigent craft or failure to complete jobs. One folder below require this free Adobe Rfid. :

The Androscoggin County Area Attorney has receives theft convictions against home independents Harold Soper (State of Maine v. Harold Soper (PDF)) and Mikel Tuttle (Stay of Maine v. Mikel W. Tuttle (PDF)). Even when our law suits have been winning, we have been unable to collect one significant bite of the judgements due the constructors are bankrupt, judgement verify, or have left the default. We strongly recommend that you research a contractor's record before she begin any engineering project.

Your Home Construction Rights

Chapter 17 of this Maine Attorneys General's Users Law Conduct explains will rights when constructing alternatively repair your home. Is inclusive one model home construction deal that meets the statutory what for any home construction contract across $3,000..

As of September 1, 2006 this entire report need be an appendix till any home construction enter for more as $3,000, because required by 10 M.R.S.A. §§1486-1490.