Events & Golf Outings > 2006 MICA Golf Outing

FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 2006
Mount Pleasant Golf Course
Baltimore, Md.

Home remodeling professionals took time from their hectic schedules on June 9 to participate in the Maryland Improvement Contractors Association's (MICA) annual golf event held to raise funds to make homeowners aware of the reasons to use only licensed home remodelers (See pictures from the event below).

MICA, a nonprofit, trade organization of remodelers licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC), and its membership of independent home remodelers joins MHIC in stressing the steps homeowners need to take to protect themselves from fraudulent contractors.

If a consumer hires an unlicensed contractor the consumer's recourse against that contractor is very limited should a problem develop. Unexpired licenses should be presented before any work is agreed upon and MHIC should be called to check license validity and to see if any complaints have been filed against the contractor. MHIC can be reached toll free at 1-888-218-5925.

Many unlicensed contractors also do not have proper insurance. If something is damaged or someone is injured while performing work on private property the homeowner is responsible for all associated costs, including medical costs. Homeowners should make sure they personally view a "Certificate of Insurance."

To protect homeowners the MHIC has a Guarantee Fund to compensate for monetary losses which arise from poor workmanship or failure to perform the work specified in a contract, but this fund only applies to contracts with licensed contractors.

Certain home improvement work requires a building permit issued by your local Permit and Inspections Office. Failure to obtain necessary permits may result in your job being shut down by local building inspectors. Licensed contractors are familiar with these permits and obtain them regularly.

"The home improvement commission is getting fewer complaints about the use of unlicensed contractors than it used to," said Sy Goldstein, MHIC Chairman. "In part, the association (MICA) has contributed to helping bring this about."

720 Light Street, Baltimore, MD 21230 TEL: (410) 576-1127• FAX: (410) 752-8295 • EMAIL: MICA@assnhqtrs.com