17 contractors cited on illegal NV, Calif. work

A total of 17 unlicensed contractors were recently cited for operating illegally in California and Nevada, officials with the Nevada State Contractors Board said.

The board joined forces with the California Contractors State License Board for a one-day operation that started Monday to target unlicensed contractors.

Five were cited at a home near Pioneer Trail in South Lake Tahoe and 12 others at a Stateline, Nev. condominium, officials said in a news release Wednesday.

The board also cited contractors for allegedly advertising without a license.

"Unlicensed contracting is a serious crime targeting homeowners across all state borders," Margi Grein, executive director for the Nevada State Contractors Board, said in a statement Wednesday. "Joining our enforcement resources for sting events, such as the Border Blitz, demonstrates our boards' unity and commitment to protecting the public from unscrupulous contractors."

Board investigators from both states posed as homeowners and contacted unlicensed contractors. They invited them to visit the sting location to discuss painting and plumbing work, officials said.

Nevada law mandates all electrical, plumbing, air conditioning and heating work to be done by a licensed contractor. All other work requires a license if the cost of the project totals $1,000, officials said.

California law requires a contractor's license for any bid more than $500, inclusive of materials and labor.

"Our boards have had a united stand against illegal contracting for quite some time – from board member collaboration to field investigations of contractors who have hurt consumers in both states," Cindi Christenson, registrar for the California Contractors State License Board, said in a statement Wednesday. "Both boards look for opportunities to send a joint message that we will not tolerate contractors who try to take advantage of the public."

Homeowners using online sources, such as Craigslist, to contact contractors for home construction or repair services should be cautious, officials said.

• Always verify the contractor's license number at www.nscb.nv.gov before hiring.

• Provide a scope of the project in writing to the Nevada State Contractors Board to check if a contractor's license is needed.

• Plumbing, electrical, heating, air conditioning and refrigeration services all require a licensed contractor – regardless of the size or scope of the project.

• Homeowners who use unlicensed contractors are ineligible for the Residential Recovery Fund.

• Contracts made with an unlicensed contractor are not valid in Nevada.

10 tips when hiring a contractor:

1. Only hire licensed contractors.

2. Check the contractor's license number on the online contractor search at www.nscb.nv.gov

3. Get at least three bids.

4. Obtain references and follow up with them on the quality and satisfaction of work performed.

5. Always get a written contract and do not sign anything until you completely understand the terms.

6. For pool contracts, pay 10 percent down or $1,000 - whichever is less, if a deposit is required.

7. Don't let payments get ahead of the work. Keep a record of all payments.

8. Don't make a final payment until you are satisfied with the job.

9. Never pay with cash; only check or credit.

10. Keep a job file of all papers relating to your project.

Source: Nevada State Contractors Board

At a glance:

Below are details of each alleged violation for which a citation was issued by NSCB investigators:

Source: Nevada State Contractors Board