Tips For Nevada Homeowners To Avoid Being Scammed On Home Repairs
Monsoon season is also one of the biggest times of the year for Southern Nevada residents to get scammed on home repairs by unlicensed contractors. The Nevada State Contractors Board just arrested such a contractor who got away with over $150K of Nevada residents’ money. When the rains and winds of monsoon season hit a specific neighborhood, unlicensed contractors come from all over to profit from it.
Monsoon Season In Nevada Brings A Rise In Home Repairs
Monsoon season starts in the southwestern United States usually in late June and lasts through September. When the summer temperatures heat up the land, the air over the Pacific Ocean gets humid. That air eventually becomes unstable and creates thunderstorms. And when those storms hit the Las Vegas area, a lot of damage can happen to homes.
Damage including flooding ruining landscaping. Winds knocking over fencing or trees. Even roofs collapsing in on houses. All things that homeowners need to repair after the storm subsides. And sometimes when residents are in a hurry to get damage fixed, they’re not as diligent about making sure their contractor is licensed.
Why Nevada residents should never hire an unlicensed contractor.
The Nevada State Contractors Board can help Southern Nevada residents who’ve had a contractor cause more damage during home repairs. If the contractor is licensed, the homeowner can file a claim within four years of the contractor’s work being done. If the contractor is unlicensed, that drops to two years. Furthermore, an unlicensed contractor is not going to be the one to redo the work, so the homeowner will end up paying more to hire a second contractor.
These are just a few of the reasons why you should never hire an unlicensed contractor in Nevada. Jennifer Lewis, from the Nevada State Contractors Board, joined Talking Solutions to give more reasons. As well as tips on how to make sure your contractor is licensed, and red flags to look out for when choosing your contractor.
Original air date of this interview was August 13, 2023.