Helena Talbot's blog - Who's Under Your Roof? The Real Risks of Unlicensed Labor

Who's that working under your roof? Or on top of your roof…or way, way up in your maple tree pruning branches? If it’s an unlicensed worker you are facing unaffordable perils—both personal and financial. Here are a few reasons why you should never employ unlicensed labor, even for the smallest job:

- You are exposing yourself to the risk of an unknown person entering your home. Someone purporting to be Mr. Fixit could, in reality, be casing your home for a later break-in, assault or home invasion. The likelihood of these horrors occurring is far less if you are dealing with a licensed contractor with ties to the community.
- You could lose thousands of dollars if the work is shoddy or incomplete. Here's where using a licensed contractor can really pay off. State licenses require contractors to have trade experience, often requiring performance tests to ensure competency, and they also require contractors to be knowledgeable about local home improvement laws. Best of all, many states have a home improvement guaranty fund from which homeowners can recover money if they suffer a loss as a result of work done by a licensed contractor.

- It’s illegal! Unlicensed workers who perform work for you are committing a misdemeanor and can be arrested, which means you are out of luck in terms of any deposit you may have put down and may well be liable for any materials bought from stores or sub-contractors by the unlicensed contractor.
- You could be exposed to enormous damages in court if the unlicensed contractor is injured on the job. State courts have found that an unlicensed worker cannot, by definition, be an independent contractor—and if he’s not a contractor, he must be your employee. This means he or she can sue you if injured on the job. In one instance in California an unlicensed worker, injured after only a few hours working on a roofing job, successfully won damages claiming he was an employee of the homeowner! In another case in West Virginia, a licensed cable installer won a $1,000,000+ settlement for injuries he sustained from a fall off a power pole attached to a home, claiming that work performed by an unlicensed electrician on the home's circuit breaker box was the cause of his injury.

These ruinous risks are avoidable. Using licensed contractors may cost more now but you can't place value on peace of mind. When embarking on contractor work, here are the top five do's and don'ts to consider:
2. Do ask for references from customers and suppliers who have worked with the contractor; and check for complaints on file with your state's contractor office and the Better Business Bureau.
3. Do check to make sure a contractor's insurance coverage is complete and up-to-date, and includes worker's comp, property damage and liability.
4. Do pay by credit card if possible, or, if paying by check, make it out to a company, never to "cash."
5. Don't pay cash. Don't pay in full in advance. Don't buy "left over supplies". Don't make a final payment until a thorough inspection of the work is complete.

1. Do ensure your contractor is licensed. The status of a contractor’s license can often be checked through your state’s Licensing Board Website or have the contractor show you a copy of the license.

I specialize in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in Loudoun County and Northern Virginia.

I have over 25 years experience in the real estate industry.  As a Broker/Owner with Exit Realty Talbot and Company, I bring special tools and solutions that enable me to exceed the expectations of my clientele.  If you are considering listing your property in Loudoun County or the nearby areas, ask me about our latest internet marketing systems.  I would appreciate the opportunity to earn your business.  I am experienced in listing and selling short sales.  For information on the short sale process, please visit  www.LoudounShortSaleSolutions.com.

For a free market analysis on the value of your home, please visit http://www.LoudounHomeValues.com

My past awards and designations include – 2003 President of the Dulles Association of Realtors, 2003 Dulles Area Assoc Realtor of the Year, Salesperson of the year 2000 Dulles Area Assoc of Realtors,  Top Producer awards from both the Dulles Area Association and the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors.  I am a member of the Top 5 in Real Estate Network.

I have lived in Loudoun County since 1979.  I am married with two grown children and two grandchildren.  My son in law is my business partner in real estate.  I love to jog in the mornings and spend time relaxing on my Trawler during the summer months.

Loudoun County and Northern Virginia Real Estate Sales and Solutions – Helena Talbot, Broker. I specialize in helping buyers and sellers invest in real estate in the Northern Virginia area to include Loudoun County and surrounding areas including Fairfax, Clarke, Fauquier, Prince William  Counties.  Our local neighborhoods includeLeesburg, Ashburn, Sterling, Potomac Falls, Brambleton, Broadlands, Lansdowne, River Creek, Belmont Country Club, Beacon Hill, Shenstone, Waterford, Lovettsville, Purcellville, Hamilton, Round Hill and Bluemont.                        Cell 703.727.9885    Office 703.574.3800

Free iPhone/Android Mobile App to search Northern Virginia real estate.  2 easy ways to get the App:  Text “Exit9” to 87778 or enter http://87778.mobi/Exit9 into your browser.