Construction & Landscape Contractors
Your home may be your most important asset. That is why it is so important to do your homework before you hire someone to start working on your home. You should try to prevent costly and irreparable damage before it happens.
Construction contractors must be licensed, bonded and insured in Oregon. You can check to see if a contractor is licensed by going to the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB) website or by calling the CCB at 503-378-4621. A devious contractor may tell you that he or she is licensed or may give you a false or outdated CCB license number, so make sure to check on your own.
Before you hire a contractor, ask friends and family for recommendations. Also check with the CCB, the Better Business Bureau and the Oregon Department of Justice (DOJ) to see if any consumer complaints have been filed against a contractor.
Before you hire a contractor, get at least three bids from different contractors. These bids should all be in writing. The lowest bid may not always be the "best bid." Make sure to compare what work is being done and what materials are being used.
You should always sign a contract that clearly states the work to be done, when it will be done and how much it costs. If possible, try to limit the amount of money you will pay upfront and do not make the final payment unless you are satisfied with the work done, as your contract permits. If it is a long project, you may want the contract to state that you will make payments during the course of the project when certain pre-specified work is completed.
In Oregon, landscape contractors must also be licensed and must be operating through a landscape business that is licensed, bonded and insured. You should take the same steps as recommended above when hiring a landscape contractor. In addition to checking with the CCB, you should also check with the Landscape Contractors Board (LCB).
