Hiring & Planning
Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor
By Mass. State Consumer Affairs Office
Feb 1, 2005, 13:20

Solicit Bids

Selecting a contractor is the most important part of the home renovation process. You should always interview at least three contractors and have each contractor bid on the project using identical plans and specifications. A bid is an offer to perform the work. Bids allow you to compare prices and contractors. Be sure the bid is detailed and in writing.

Discuss the bids with each contractor and make sure you understand the reasons for any variations in price. DO NOT NECCESARILY GO WITH THE LOWEST BIDDER. Sometimes a higher price may be worth it, if the materials to be used are of higher quality or the work is more extensive. In addition, be aware that professional contractors who carry insurance will have greater overhead expenses and their bids may be more expensive than those from contractors who take business shortcuts.

Check the Contractor’s Registration

Check with the Board of Building Regulations and Standards to make sure that the contractor or subcontractor you hire is currently registered with the state, and has an appropriate license, if necessary.

A Home Improvement Registration certificate and a Construction Supervisor License are different.

The Home Improvement Contractor Registration Program is primarily a business registration program designed to protect consumers. The registration process identifies the responsible party for the contracting business, who is responsible for the company’s business practices. A registration does not certify that a contractor has a set of construction skills.

A Construction Supervisor’s License, however, does fulfill that function. If a contractor is going to be supervising certain structural work, then that person will need to have a license, which presently requires that the contractor has at least 3 years of construction or design experience and has passed a written examination on the State Building Code.

Note: there are several exemptions to the registration requirement. Contractors who do not need to be registered include installers or providers of central heating and air conditioning, energy conservation devices, landscaping, interior painting, wall and floor coverings, fencing, freestanding masonry walls, above ground pools, shutters, awnings, ground level patios, driveways and certain licensed professionals such as architects, electricians and plumbers who provide services that are exclusively within the scope of their profession. Additionally, some part-time and small job (under $500) contractors do not need to be registered.

Registered contractors must display their six-digit registration number on all advertisements, contracts and permits. Wherever you see the company or contractor’s name displayed, you should also find a registration number nearby. The state issues an identification card to all registered contractors. Ask to see it in order to verify that the registration is valid and has not expired. If you discover that a contractor is not registered, report this act to the Office of the Attorney General.

Ask the contractor for the address of his or her business location and the business telephone number. Verify them.

Talk with some of the contractor’s former customers. They can help you decide if a particular contractor is right for you. You may want to ask:

• May I visit your home to view the completed job?
• Were you pleased with the work?
• Did the contractor keep to the project schedule and the contract terms?
• Was the project completed on time?
• Were there unexpected costs? If so, what were they?
• Would you recommend the contractor?

You should also check the contractor’s complaint history with the Attorney General’s Office or the Better Business Bureau. In addition, the Office of Consumer Affairs can inform you if there have been any arbitration cases decided against the contractor, or if any Guaranty Fund claims have been filed against the contractor. But remember, a history of no complaints does not necessarily mean that there have been no previous consumer problems. There is a chance that problems do exist, but have not been reported. The contractor may also being doing business under several different names.

You also may want to find out if the contractor is a member of a professional or trade association that has a code of ethics or standards for their members.