With the coming of spring in a tough economic climate, Westchester residents should beware of scams as they contemplate home improvement projects.  Westchester County Clerk Timothy C. Idoni wants to educate residents who are planning to hire a plumber or electrician.  The Office of the Westchester County Clerk licenses plumbers and electricians throughout the county and investigates complaints from homeowners with problems.  Matters can be referred to the Board of Plumbing Examiners or the Electrical Licensing Board which may impose a fine or take other disciplinary action.

As Westchester residents begin to tackle spring home improvement projects, they should consider the following:

►        Plumbers and electricians must be licensed in Westchester County:

·         All plumbing work must be performed by a Westchester County licensed plumber or an employee of a licensed plumber.  All electrical work must be performed by a Westchester County licensed electrician or an employee of a licensed electrician.

·         Ask to see your plumber or electrician’s Westchester County License Card which will show the date their license expires.

·         Check www.WestchesterClerk.com for an up-to-date list of electricians and plumbers.  In addition to seeing whether they are licensed, you can check the expiration dates of their insurance policies.

►        Get it in writing:  A written agreement of what is expected should be drawn up before work begins to ensure you will get the work done within a reasonable time and at a reasonable cost.  Your contract should answer the following questions:  Exactly what work is going to be done?  What preparatory work is included?  When will the work begin?  How long will the work take?  What type and quantity of materials are being used?

►        Look for an official place of business:  Be sure that the electrician or plumber that you are planning to hire has a fixed place of work should you need to visit them for any reason.  All the estimates and contracts should have a company name, address and phone number and plumbers should include their license numbers on any estimate.  Be wary of a person who may only give you a telephone number.

►        Shop around:  Don’t pick the first tradesperson that you see advertised.  Just because they have the flashiest ad in the phonebook does not mean they are the most professional.  Get more than one estimate.  Ask for references. 

Finally, County Clerk Idoni urges residents to let his office help.  The Trades Licensing Division staff can be reached by calling (914)995-2657 or emailing eeb2@westchestergov.com.  The office is located at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in White Plains and is open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding legal holidays. 

 

 

 

 

 

Copyright © 2004 - 09 The Mount Vernon Inquirer. All Rights Reserved Any copying, redistribution or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the express written consent of The Inquirer Media Group is expressly prohibited.