Home-improvement Headaches: There’s a Bill to Fix That
Bill aims to strengthen home improvement contracts, help consumers recover money
Complaints about home improvement contractors keep rising, and Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller is proposing legislation to protect consumers — some who have lost thousands of dollars on projects.
It’s a situation Rick Sattler and Kristi Chambers never thought they’d experience: A home improvement contractor takes money but leaves behind nothing but broken promises and unfinished projects. Even if lawsuits are filed and judgments ordered, sometimes no money is ever recovered.
“We lived that nightmare for 18 months,” Sattler said. “You’d love to see him arrested or your money recovered, but you come to a point where you just want something out there, so he doesn’t do this to someone else.”
The Oxford, Iowa, couple’s story began in 2019 when the mobile home park where they lived in Tiffin raised the rent. They took it as a sign to buy land and move their modular home. Sattler said he approached a contractor who was helping other residents of the mobile home park relocate their homes.
“I did some due diligence and didn’t find anything terribly wrong with him,” Sattler said. “Afterward, I did.”
When Sattler told the man of plans to remodel the inside of the home once it was settled on their land in Oxford, the contractor said he could do that work, as well. In all, Sattler said the bill came to about $96,000.
The contractor poured the foundation, set the home and gutted the structure to the studs. Then he took off with about $40,000 of Sattler and Chambers’ money.
“We had to pick up the pieces,” Sattler said. “We either had to finish the project or lose everything. We dipped into our retirement savings, it was the only choice we had and that really sucks. But we had to.”
Upon inspection by other contractors and the state, it was learned that the original man didn’t have a license to move the home and all the work had to be redone.
“We tried talking to him. If he wanted to leave, that’s fine, but give us back our money,” Sattler said. “We were able to get a little bit of insurance money, but when you have to redo everything that barely covers it. A surety bond, that would be the smartest thing for anyone to do.”
To remedy situations like Sattler and Chambers’, the Iowa Attorney General’s office has again proposed a bill with the Legislature to strengthen the law involving home improvement contracts. Under SB3094 a residential
What’s a surety bond?
A bond is a form of insurance to protect a contractor’s customers if he or she fails to complete the job properly or fails to pay for permits, subcontractors, or suppliers or meet other financial obligations.
Bonds are common for commercial and public construction projects. Iowa car dealers must carry a $75,000 bond to do business legally. And many states require bonds on home-improvement contracts. In Iowa, all contractors must register with the Iowa Division of Labor Services, but no bond protecting a consumer is currently required.
To obtain a surety bond, a contractor would pay a small percentage of the full amount of the bond. The cost depends on the applicant’s credit score, experience, and other factors. Bond companies would act as screeners to thoroughly review a person purchasing a bond so this would help weed out contractors with a record of claims, judgments, name changes, and complaints. It would also prevent contractors from taking consumer money and then closing their business, just to start right back up under another business name.
Contractors who violate the requirement to obtain a bond would be guilty of a simple misdemeanor and in violation of Iowa’s Consumer Fraud Act. In addition, the Iowa Division of Labor would cancel their contractor registration.
What type of projects are included?
The bond would cover contracts to improve or repair existing residential property, including garages, sidewalks, and other features. It does not include contracts for less than $200 total.
How could a consumer make a claim?
Under the bill, a customer or materials
The attorney general may also make a direct claim on a bond on behalf of consumers.
How big a problem is this?
Among the 3,536 written complaints the Consumer Protection Division received in 2021, home improvement complaints were the second most common category, with 363 total complaints. That represents a 4.5% percent increase over the previous year, even though disaster repair complaints declined sharply a year after the derecho. Complaints related to roofing, windows, siding and other services made up the majority of the 363 complaints the category received last year.
Our attorneys and investigators work with contractors and homeowners to resolve disputes that involve a misunderstanding between the parties. In cases in which a contractor has committed a deceptive act or unfair practice, the Attorney General’s Office may sue under the Consumer Fraud Act seeking consumer reimbursement, an injunction against future bad conduct, and up to $40,000 in civil penalties for each violation.
In the past, the Attorney General’s Office has sued many contractors who have cheated dozens of customers. The office has won judgments of $100,000 or more and gotten contractors banned from doing business in Iowa. Unfortunately, many of the defendants in these lawsuits are unwilling or unable to pay and have no assets that can be seized to pay a judgment.
Why can’t those contractors be charged with a crime?
They can, but proving theft is difficult under existing law. Court rulings have held that down payments for construction projects are not held in trust and therefore do not necessarily qualify as taking of property. In addition, a prosecutor must prove that the contractor intended to commit fraud when signing the contract.
How can I avoid problems in the first place?
Here’s advice in getting the job done right:
Make your plan clear. Before looking for a contractor, think about your project and follow our contractor checklist.
Consider writing down a proposed project description, including the quality of materials that you expect the contractor to use, so a contractor is clear about the scope of project and type of materials. Do not make advanced payments to the contractor. As the project progresses, only pay for materials and labor as they are provided. Check with your city or county on required inspections and building permits.
Check references before you sign a contract or make a down payment. The best kind of reference comes from someone you know and trust. Ask who they have hired for their projects and whether they were satisfied. Ask the contractor you’re thinking of hiring for local references and contact them. Check for complaints filed with the Consumer Protection Division (515-281-5926 or 888-777-4590) and check the Better Business Bureau’s complaint database at www.bbb.org. It’s a red flag if a contractor is not listed in the local telephone directory or provides only a post office box and not a street address.
To see if a contractor has been sued or filed a lawsuit, go to: www.iowacourts.state.ia.us
Get the contract in writing. Before work begins, agree on a written contract. Include the work to be done, the brand and/or the specifications of the materials to be used, the price, who is responsible for obtaining permits and scheduling inspections. Insist that all change orders must be in writing and establish who is responsible for cleanup. Include start and completion dates, and the remedies if the contractor fails to meet them. (Example: The contract could be nullified if the contractor doesn’t start on time.) If you’re filing an insurance claim to cover the costs of damages, negotiate the details of the repairs with your insurance company directly and not through a contractor. If you sign a contract somewhere other than the contractor’s regular place of business, such as at your home, you have three business days to cancel the contract without penalty. Most important, read the contract before you sign it.
Look into financing through local banks or credit unions rather than a contractor. Compare loan terms, and don’t let anyone pressure you into signing a loan document. Do not deed your property to anyone.
The Attorney General’s website contains more advice on avoiding home-improvement problems.
If you feel you’ve been wronged, file a complaint with the Iowa Attorney General. Call 515-281-5926 or 888-777-4590 (outside of the Des Moines metro area) or email [email protected].
