Reduce Risks to Your Home

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Home repairs can be expensive, but using unlicensed contractors can cost you more in the long-run, in addition to putting your home and your loved ones in imminent danger. 

Avoid finding out the hard way! Below are some of the ways you can safeguard your home from unsafe construction, scams, and other problems: 

Hire only licensed contractors. 

The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation (OCABR) maintains a free online tool to check the license status of Home Improvement Contractors:

https://services.oca.state.ma.us/hic/licenseelist.aspx

The Massachusetts Division of Occupational Licensure has a similar free resource for checking license status for electricians, plumbers, and gas fitters:

https://elicensing21.mass.gov/CitizenAccess/GeneralProperty/PropertyLookUp.aspx?isLicensee=Y

Licensed contractors are also required to carry insurance. Your homeowner's insurance is not a substitute.

Get a permit before the job starts.

Just applying for the permit is not enough. Each permit application is reviewed by the corresponding inspector and checked for license information, insurance coverage, job description, and building plans (where applicable). The permit will only be issued after clearing this review. Work started before a permit is issued may be shut down by order of the Building Commissioner or Inspector and may result in penalties.

Permit fees are set by the Town of Maynard (see our Fee Schedule), and are visible on the bottom of the issued permit. Check this fee against any permit fee quoted by your contractor.

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Get the work inspected.

Permits will remain open until they pass a final inspection. Work with your contractor, plumber, electrician, etc. to schedule the necessary inspections. Any code failures must be corrected for the job to pass. Permits left open can cause problems should you decide to sell your home. You can check the status of any permits on a property by calling the Office of Municipal Services at (978) 897-1302.

Know the signs of home improvement scams.

  • Scammers knock on your door looking for business because they are “in the area.”
  • Scammers say they have materials left over from a previous job.
  • Scammers pressure you for an immediate decision.
  • Scammers ask you to pay for everything up front or only accept cash.

Read more at the Federal Trade Commission https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/how-avoid-home-improvement-scam and at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/avoiding-scams-and-frauds

If you have questions, please contact the Building & Inspections Division at (978) 897-1302, or visit us at Town Hall (Lower Level).