Did you know that you can get help from the local and state licensing authorities if you are having a dispute with your hired general contractor? Continue below for some tips that can help you resolve a contractor dispute that has yet to resolve itself.
How to Solve a Contractor Dispute
In many cases of contractor disputes, the situation can be quite challenging, whether you are coming from a commercial or residential standpoint. Fortunately, there are some helpful courses available to clients of contractors when such disputes do arise. One such solution is contacting the local and state licensing authority.
These regulating authorities can be your secret weapon against an immoral, unethical, or stubborn general contractor. They can help you save a lot of time and money attempting to resolve the contractor dispute on your own, plus protect you against a lengthy and stressful civil lawsuit.
What You Should Expect From a Licensed Contractor
You see, virtually all contractors are subject to mandatory local and state licensing requirements; some more than others, though. Contractors like electricians and master plumbers have very strict licensing requirements. Unfortunately, general contractor licensing requirements are more lenient.
Nonetheless, such requirements obligate contractors to demonstrate a certain duty of care when undertaking work for paid clients. Being “licensed” comes with a specific set of professional expectations, and although this standard can vary slightly among jurisdictions, it generally means that a contractor:
✏ Retains Knowledge and Training
✏ Has Some Experience
✏ Passed a Certified Examination
✏ Stays Current on Code Changes
It is also important to note that being registered in the state is not the same as being licensed. Be sure to look for this when hiring a general contractor.
Licensing Violations Versus Remodeling Contract Violations
Keep in mind that not all general contractor disputes are based on professional licensing violations. Some can be categorized under a remodeling contract breech, which is a dispute not regularly handled by licensing authorities.
For instance, let’s say you hire a general contractor to add a half-bathroom in your basement. If they say the project should take around 3 weeks, but it ends up taking 3 months, this would be a breech of the remodeling contract, not their licensing requirements. This would require a lawsuit or even a bond to resolve.
Oppositely, if your contractor adds a new bathroom to your basement, but does not do so up to code, this could be considered a violation of their licensing requirements. In such case, your state or local licensing agency might help you recover some justice.
Reporting a Contractor Dispute
Visit your local county, town, or state government website to learn which regulating authorities oversee your particular contractor. You will be able to see which types of work your county or town licenses. Upon investigation, which tends to happen quickly, the licensing agency may choose to discipline the wrongful contractor.
There are a few ways they might do this, including heavy fines, restitution, refunds to clients, license suspensions, and in really egregious situations, license revocations. They may also be kicked out of any professional organization or membership they have within their industry. As for the clients, the residing licensing authority may be able to recover additional compensation, aside from refunds, to make up for financial damages and losses.
Are you looking for a professional commercial contractor in Indiana that you can trust for the highest level of excellence in the industry? Contact BAF Corporation at 317-253-0531 for superior commercial general contracting services in Indianapolis, Indiana.We serve commercial and industrial clients all throughout the state.
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