Building Department

The spring is fast approaching and many of us are thinking of having home projects done this year. Do we need an addition, a re-roof, windows, siding or simply a landscaping project? Choosing the right contractor could be the most important decision of the job, here are a few tips.

• Start early, the legitimate contractors are already scheduling work for the summer months and anticipate closing off the list for this year’s projects very soon, first come, first served. Start planning your projects now and contact at least three contractors asap for estimates, next year is a long time to wait.
• Know your contractor, take time to research your contractor through social sites, the Better Business Bureau etc... Don’t be afraid to ask for references, there are a lot of fly by nights out there, be careful.
• Ask for a copy of their builders’ license, per P.A. 299 of 1980, everyone who performs work on your property must be licensed to do that work through the State of Michigan. If you hire an unlicensed contractor to do work and the job is not done satisfactorily, you will not have any recourse to be able to recover damages due to the poor work. Our staff at the building department will be happy to run a license for you and confirm if it is current or not.
• Ask for a copy of workman’s comp and of liability insurances. To protect your own liability, the contractor needs to verify to you that they are currently covered for both types of insurance. As a homeowner, you are responsible for the safety of the workers on your job and for damages which may occur during the natural progression of your project. Be careful, verifying insurances may be difficult.
• When a contractor pulls a permit to do work on your property, the local building department verifies licensing and insurance policy’s as a check and balance to avoid licensing and insurance fraud. This building department always recommends having your contractor pull all permits and take responsibly for the work they do