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Choosing a Builder
The information provided is not meant to be a substitute for legal advice.
Get the names of contractors from:
- Friends or neighbors who have had satisfactory work done.
- People at local home improvement centers, builder shows or open houses.
- Local Yellow Pages list licensed builders who do business in your community.
- Local homebuilders association. If the association is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders, all members should be licensed by the state in order to be included on their roster.
You should be aware that all contractors offering to do work which totals $600 or more in labor and materials must be licensed by the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs. A Residential Builders license allows a contractor to build a complete residential structure and to do maintenance & alteration (remodeling) work on a residential structure. A Maintenance & Alteration license indicates that the holder has met requirements for one or more of the following trades:
- basement waterproofing
- carpentry
- concrete
- excavation
- house wrecking
- insulation
- masonry
- painting and decorating
- roofing
- screen and storm sash
- gutters
- siding
- swimming pools
- tile and marble
The trades for which a maintenance & alteration contractor is qualified to practice are listed on the license.
The holders state license must be displayed in the place of business and all contractors and their salespersons must carry a pocket card which you should ask to see. If they cannot show you a license, check the department's License Information database or call the Builders Licensing Unit at (517) 373-8376.
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