Remodeling and Home Services
Buying a House and Making it a Home
While house hunting in Las Vegas, you and your spouse found the perfect home. It’s well-situated close to a high-rated school, it’s within a decent commute to your work and it has a nice pool and landscaped backyard that really made a lasting impression. You’re hesitating because the home will require some remodeling, but it’s not enough to stop you from moving in. On the other hand, the home is available for immediate occupancy while other model homes you liked are not and are in outlying communities. Remodeling sounds like the solution, but where do you start?

Find out more in this section about the remodeling trends, the best ways to find a remodeling contractor, the questions to ask when interviewing a contractor and what to include in the remodeling contract. Also find out what remodeling projects in Las Vegas provide the best return on investment. You’ll find a wealth of information about home-services providers and how they can help transform your home into a desert oasis!

According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) (www.nari.org), the remodeling market is a $275 billion industry and is expected to continue to experience significant growth.

Remodeling accounts for about 40 percent of all residential construction spending and about 2 percent of the U.S. economy. Although often more costly, major remodeling projects typically have provided a strong return on investment. A kitchen upgrade or room addition will recoup 80 percent of the cost within the first two years of construction and will continue to increase a home’s value over time.

WORKING WITH CONTRACTORS IN NEVADA
The Nevada State Contractors Board (www.nvcontractorsboard.com) provides a comprehensive booklet for homeowners to review at its website. “A Consumer Overview of Contractors and Construction Contracts” provides information to help consumers deal with contractors and the Nevada State Contractors Board. The guide is for informational purposes and not intended as an instructional guide. Excerpts are provided in the following.

If you are considering home construction, repair, remodel, addition, demolition, electrical, plumbing or air conditioning repair, landscaping or installing a new pool, you will need a contractor to do the work. In the state of Nevada, that contractor should have a proper contractor’s license for his specific trade.

Licensed contractors who have met experience and examination requirements are required to maintain bonds and workers compensation insurance as well as have established their financial responsibility. Therefore, it is wise to insist that your contractor be licensed. Your home is one of your biggest investments. Be aware of your rights and responsibilities when hiring any person to work on it. An informed and prepared consumer is key to a successful project.

THE CONTRACTORS BOARD
The Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) licenses and regulates contractors throughout the state of Nevada and is committed to promoting the integrity and professionalism of the contracting industry in the state. It has the responsibility of promoting quality construction by Nevada-licensed contractors through a regulatory licensing system designed to protect the health, welfare and safety of the public.

The NSCB consists of seven members appointed by the governor. Six members are licensed contractors and one is a noncontractor public representative. The NSCB’s staff includes a licensing department that processes and maintains contractors’ license information and an investigative department that looks into complaints.

— CONTACT THE NSCB
As a consumer, you may contact the NSCB to do the following:
  • Check and see whether the contractor you are considering is licensed, in good standing, in the proper classification and within the monetary limit for which you want to hire.
  • Check for disciplinary actions.
  • Get tips on making sure your rights are protected before you enter into a contract.
  • File a complaint against a licensed contractor.
  • File a complaint against an unlicensed contractor.
  • Report unlicensed contracting activity.

To check a contractor’s license in Southern Nevada, call (702) 486-1100. You also can check to see if a contractor is licensed at the NSCB website at www.nvcontractorsboard.com.

To file a complaint against an unlicensed contractor, contact the NSCB Investigations Unit in Southern Nevada at (702) 486-1160. You also may file a complaint on the NSCB website by going to Consumer Information and then the subheading Filing Construction Complaints. To contact the NSCB by mail or to visit their offices, the address is 2310 Corporate Circle, Suite 200, Henderson, NV 89074.

GOVERNING LAW AND RULES
The law and rules regulating the licensing and conduct of contractors in the state of Nevada are contained in Nevada Revised Statutes 624 and Nevada Administrative Code 624. The purpose of the law is to protect the public and to provide remedies for consumers when a licensed contractor has violated the law. All contractors are required to be licensed. Unlicensed contracting activity is illegal in Nevada and is investigated by the NSCB and prosecuted by the local justice court. Unlicensed contracting penalties can escalate from a misdemeanor to a gross misdemeanor and to a Class E felony.

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