Pennsylvania's New Home Improvement Contractor Law

In 2008, the Pennsylvania Legislature passed the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act. The law requires that all contractors who perform at least $5,000 worth of home improvements per year register with the Attorney General's Office.

As a home improvement instructor I have heard many horror stories from my students of incompetent contractors, contractors that take a deposit and never finish the work or disappear. Local municipalities including the city of Philadelphia have required home improvement contractors to be licensed and carry adequate liability insurance. The licensing was a safe guard for the consumers. It provided a way to verify the contractor carried adequate insurance.

The new law is designed to consolidate the home improvement contractors throughout Pennsylvania into a single database that can be searched by the consumer online or by telephone to verify the contractor is licensed.

The new Pennsylvania law does not test the skill level of the contractor. It only verifies insurance coverage. The frightening fact is, anyone can pickup a paint brush and a hammer and call themselves a home improvement contractor.

The database should not be relied upon as the absolute resource in finding a reliable contractor. Home and property owners will still need to ask some important questions when screening a contractor:

• Are they licensed by the State of Pennsylvania. Some contractors may not know this law exists.
• What is their license number?
• Before you hire them you want a certificate of insurance. This is a free service provided by the contractor's insurance company. You want the certificate made out to you.
• Ask for proof of workmens compensation insurance for their employees.
• Ask for references.
• Ask how long have they been in business.
• Ask them if they do the work or do they use sub-contractors.
• If they use sub-contractors ask for the sub-contractors certificate of insurance, workmens compensation insurance and state license number.
• Get all details of work in a written contract.
• Remind the contractor of the Right to Rescind Law that allows you to cancel your contract and received a full refund.
  

These questions will help eliminate unscrupulous contractors and allow the you some peace of mind when hiring someone to remodel or repair your home, investment property or business.

"Do-It-yourself-Home-Repair" Class

Temple University is offering a non-credit course:
"Do-It-yourself-Home-Repair"

Save money and say "I did it myself." Knowledgeable and patient instructor and craftsman Paul Plevakas will teach you exactly how to handle practical repairs and improvements. This hands-on workshop will give you the step-by-step instructions you need and the vocabulary that goes with it.

Join me for a fun and informative four week course that will help you save money, get a better understanding on how your properties work and learn what the contractors are talking about.

Owner's of investment properties, this course will teach you how to make repairs on your rental properties as well as your home, saving you money and time, keeping the building running and tenants happy. Learn to make repairs that will cut down on calling a contractor for small annoying repairs.

The Course Covers
☞ Safety and Tools
☞ Carpentry
☞ Electricity
☞ Plumbing
☞ Painting
☞ Roofing
☞ Flooring

If you do not want to or cannot do the work yourself learn the tools, contractors terminology, and materials of the trades and prevent yourself from being taken advantage of the next time you need to hire a contractor.

Paul Plevakas - Licensed Remodeling Contractor

Four Saturdays: June 6, 13, 20, 27, 2009 - 10:00 am - 2:00 p.m.
Tuition: $135.00

To Register Contact:
Stacey Eleby, Registrar
Telephone: 215-204-6946
Email: seleby@temple.edu
Online:http://155.247.168.77/CourseStatus.awp?~~09UIHAG10000

Temple University Center City
Office of Non-Credit Programs
Suite 215,
1515 Market Street
Phila., PA 19102

Recall of Electrical Wiring How-to-Books

On recent trip to the return counter at Home Depot I noticed on the Recall Bulletin Board: Faulty Instructions Prompt Recall of Electrical Wiring How-to-Books by The Taunton Press; Shock Hazard to Consumers. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Wiring a House, 3rd Edition, ISBN #978-1-56158-942-5 and Wiring Complete, Expert Advice from Start to Finish Instructional Books "contain several errors in the technical diagrams that could lead consumers to incorrectly install or repair electrical wiring, posing an electrical shock hazard to consumers."

For more information visit contact: The Taunton Press, of Newtown, Conn. at (800) 477-8727 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site www.taunton.com, or visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PREREL/prhtml09/09078.html

If you own these books return them to your place of purchase for a refund. Normally no refunds are granted for books at Home Depot kindly remind the employees at Home Depot that these books have been recalled and you should receive a full refund.