Orange CountyConsumer Fraud Unit
407-836-2490www.ocfl.net/[email protected]
HOMEREPAIR
Education is Protection;Knowledge is Power.
When Can A Lien Be Filed Against Your Property?• Beforemakinganypaymentstoyour
contractor,youshouldgetawrittennotarizedpartialorfullreleaseoflienthatthecontractorhaspaidallofthebillsforyourjob.
• Ifyoureceiveda“NoticetoOwner”fromanyone,youshouldrequireyourcontractortogetanotarizedreleaseoflienfromeachpersonstatingthattheyhavebeenpaidforallworkdoneonyourjob.Thisshouldbedonebeforemakingpaymentstoyourcontractor.
• Ifyouareborrowingmoneytocompletetheimprovementsandthelenderpaysthecontractordirectly,youshouldmakesurethelenderisgettingthesenotarizedreleasesofliensbeforeanypaymentsaremadetothecontractor.
Tips• Avoidanycontractorwhorequiresadvance
payment.Arrangetopayaftertheworkiscompletedorinregularpaymentsaccordingtotheamountofworkdone.
• Anotarizedreleaseoflienensuresthatyouwillnothavetofacedoublepaymentorpossiblelossofpropertytotheunpaidparties.
• Don’tsignaworkcompletioncertificateuntilALLworkiscompletedtoyoursatisfaction.
• Avoidpayingcash.• Ifyouarefinancingtheimprovementorrepair,
comparetheinterestratesandpaymentsofseverallendinginstitutions,especiallyifyouareconsideringasecondmortgagetofinancetheimprovements.
• Donotuseanunlicensedcontractor—thepossiblesavingsininitialcostsdoesn’toutweightherisk.
Unlicensed Activity EnforcementTheOrangeCountyBoardofCountyCommissionersamendedChapter9oftheOrangeCountyCodeconcerningunlicensedcontractors.Highlightsoftheordinanceare:• OrangeCountyFraudInvestigatorshavebeen
designatedasCodeEnforcementOfficersandwillproactivelyaddressunlicensedactivityinOrangeCounty.
• Violatorswillbeissuedcivilcitationsandfineswillbeassessed.
• AppealswillbebroughtbeforetheBuildingCodeBoardofAdjustmentandAppeals.
• TheseactionsareinadditiontoourabilitytofilecriminalchargeswiththeOfficeoftheStateAttorney,NinthJudicialCircuit.
To report an Unlicensed Contractor, you can;
Call 407-836-2490 or 407-836-5690Via Orange County 311 APP or Dial 311By e-mail: [email protected] fax: (407) 836-1210Web Site: www.orangecountyfl.net
REV 12/2014
Homeimprovementsandrepairscanposemanydifficultproblemsandcomplaintsforconsumers.Thegeneralguidelinesandcautionscontainedinthispamphletcanassistconsumersandshouldbeconsideredwhendealingwithhomecontractors
Beware of Con Artists!Theymay:• Solicitdoor-to-door(andhaveusually“just
finishedajobdownthestreet”).• Arriveinunmarkedvansortrucks.• HaveaPostOfficeBoxorgiveanaddressofa
localmotelastheiraddress.• Promisetouseyourhomeasa“demonstration
model’–atabargainprice.• Offertoworkforyouonlyifyouwillobtainany
necessarybuildingpermits,whichmakesYOUresponsiblefortheworkdone.
Find a Reputable and Reliable Contractor:• VerifyifthecontractorhasaLocalTaxReceipt• withtheCityandCounty.• Determinehowlongacontractorhasbeenin
business.• CheckwiththeBetterBusinessBureau:407-
621-3300www.bbb.org,andtheDepartmentofProfessionalRegulationtodetermineifcomplaintshavebeenfiledandverifytheirstatelicense.(850-487-1395www.MyFloridaLicense.com)
• Askforreferencesofpersonsforwhomthecontractorhasdonework,andcheckthemout.
Narrowing the Field• Chooseseveralcontractorsandobtainwritten
estimatesfromeach.Explainwhatyouwant• done,specifyingsuchitemsasthequalityand
typeofmaterials,thelengthoftimethejobwilltake,andthetotalcost.
• Besuspiciousofacontractorwhooffersthefastest,cheapestjobona“nowornever”basis.Poorworkmanship,inferiormaterialsandunfinishedjobsareoftentheresultsofthierefforts.
• Aftercheckingthecomplainthistory,weigheverythingyouhavelearnedbeforejumpingintohiringafirm.Remember,don’tletthisbeyouronlycriteriaforselection.
Before Signing the Contract . . .• Readitcarefully.• Askforlegalexplanationsand/orclarifications
–understandwhatyouaresigning.• FillinALLblanks.• Consultyourinsuranceagenttoseeifrepairs
aretobecoveredbyyourinsurance.• The Contract Should Include• Constructioncompletiondate.• Contractor’sname,address,phonenumber,and
theirlicenseorcertificationnumber.• Precisedescriptionofworktobecompleted
andmaterialstobesupplied.• Financinginformationthatisrequiredbylaw
orthatispartofthetransaction.• Anywarrantyagreements.• Namesofthosesupplyingthecontractorwith
laborormaterials.Becertaintheyareinsuredsothatyouareprotectedagainsttheftordamage.
• Allnecessarybuildingpermitsorlicenses.Makesurethejobsitewillbecleanedthoroughly,andthatnodebrisremainsafterthejobiscompleted.
Cancellation of ContractHomerepairorimprovementcontractseligibleforcancellationwithoutpenaltyorobligationbymidnightofthethirdbusinessdayaftersigningare:• Signedanywhereotherthantheseller’snormal
placeofbusiness.• Alldoor-do-dooragreements,exceptfor
emergencyhomerepairs.Mechanics’ Lien Law• AsummarizationoftheMechanics’Lien
Law,preparedbytheDivisionofConsumerServicesandsenttoallbuildingofficials,mustbegiventocontractorsandpropertyownerswhenbuildingpermitsareobtained.The“NoticeofCommencement”mustbefiledbythehomeownerwiththeClerkoftheCircuitCourtinthecountywheretheworkwillbeperformed.
• TheMechanics’LienLaw(FloridaStatuteCh.713,PartI)providesforamethodbywhichacontractor,subcontractor,laborer,buildingmaterialsupplier,architect,landscapearchitect,interiordesigner,engineer,oralandsurveyormayclaimalienonrealpropertyonwhichtheyhavedoneworkortowhichtheyhavefurnishedmaterials.Ifthelienisnotsatisfied,yourpropertymaybesoldtopaythelien.Beforeanyconstructionbegins,andaftertheconstructionmortgagehasbeenrecorded,theownershouldtakethefollowingsteps:
1. Beforeapplyingforabuildingpermit,a“NoticeofCommencement”formshouldbeobtainedfromanofficesupplystore.
2. Completethe“Notice”formwiththerequiredinformation.
3. Afterthebuildingpermitisissued,recordthe“Notice”withtheClerkoftheCircuitCourtinthecountywheretheworkwillbeperformed.Ifaperformancebondisposted,acopyofthebondmustbeattachedatthetimeof,orpriorto,therecordingofthe“NoticeofCommencement.”
4. Postthecertifiedcopyofthe“Notice”atthejobsite.Thereisnorequirementtopostacopyofthebond.
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