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CCB's Home Improvement Month - March 2025

 

What Is Home Improvement Month?

March is a time when homeowners and consumers plan home improvement projects. To support them in these efforts, we're making this March "Home Improvement Month!" On our Home Improvement Month page you'll find resources to help with your upcoming construction projects.

Sign Up For Our March Consumer Webinars

We're providing three free consumer webinars to the public this month!

  • Door to Door Sales Webinar: What to Do When the Home Improvement Comes To You
    • When: March 4, 2025, 11:00
    • Webinar description: Join us for a talk about door-to-door sales. When is it a scam and when is it legit? We'll discuss how to protect yourself from scams and hire the right contractor for you. Sign up here.
  • Fire Hardening Webinar
    • When: March 18, 2025, 11:00
    • Webinar Description: During this webinar, we'll learn from Building Codes Division about how to harden your home against fires. The speaker will present a brief statewide wildfire map update, then discuss hardening as it relates to roofing, gutters, ventilation openings, exterior walls, porches, patios, decks, and other home systems. At the end, CCB will present on how to hire a contractor to do the work. Sign up here.
  • Choosing a Real Estate Agent, Their Duties to You, and What to Do If Things Go Wrong Webinar
    • When: March 27, 2025, 11:00
    • Webinar description: Are you buying or selling a home this year? Join us for a presentation featuring speakers from Oregon's Real Estate Agency (REA). Speakers will provide you with tips for choosing an agent and discuss what to do when things go wrong. Some topics include:
      •    Tips for choosing the right agent
      •    Prior regulatory action
      •    Buyer Agency & representation agreements
      •    Seller Agency & listing agreements
      •    Supervising brokers
      •    Professional trade associations
      •    Complaints to the Real Estate Agency
      At the end, CCB will present on working with contractors to repair a home during the buying and selling process. Sign up here.

Why Check the License When Hiring a Contractor?

Licensed contractors:

  • Have a complaint history you can look up on our license search feature
  • Are required to carry a bond and insurance
  • Take a test and continuing education
In addition, if you have a dispute with your licensed contractor, CCB's mediation process can help.

How to Check the License

  1. Visit the license lookup feature on our website.
  2. Enter the license number in the search bar, then click the "search" button.
  3. Verify that the license is active. Click into the record to see their license history, including any complaints, disciplinary history, and more. Verify that the name on the license matches the name or business you're hiring.
Need help understanding the search results? Call CCB at 503-378-4621.

Want Resources for Your Upcoming Home Renovation? See CCB's guides.

CCB offers guides for consumers performing home improvement projects.

Find more of our publications here. You can also order a guide to be sent in the mail for free!

Do Your Homework Before Hiring a Contractor

  • Check references. Check at least three references before hiring a contractor for a renovation.
  • Vet multiple contractors. Vet at least three contractors for large home improvement projects. Vetting multiple contractors allows you to compare prices, timelines, and more.
  • Get a contract. Contracts are required for jobs over $2,000, but CCB recommends getting a contract for jobs of all prices. Learn more about contracts.

How to Report Unlicensed Contractor Activity

Reporting unlicensed contractor activity is easy with the CCB's website. Consumers that are aware of unlicensed contractors on active jobsites can report the activity to CCB here.

Reports can be made anonymously, or you can request a follow up phone call to find out what happened to your report.

Dangers of Hiring An Unlicensed Contractor

  • No ability to look up license history: CCB's license search feature allows consumers to look up any license and see its history, including disciplinary history, previous suspensions, complaints and more. This helps consumers to make informed decisions when hiring a contractor. No such look up exists for unlicensed contractors. 
  • No access to mediation: CCB offers mediation services to consumers in dispute with their licensed contractor. CCB mediations help keep these disputes out of court. Consumers in dispute with unlicensed contractors do not have this option, and while some do choose to go to court, others simply walk away. Many hire licensed contractors to fix the problem. 
  • No insurance, bond, or workers comp policy: Licensed contractors are required to have insurance and a bond in place to protect consumers. Businesses with employees are requried to have workers comp. Most often, unlicensed contractors do not have this kind of protection and thus put consumers who hire them at risk. 

Know the Signs of a Scam

Unlicensed contractor scams can happen to anyone.

  • You feel pressure to act now: Scam artists put pressure on consumers so they'll make a fast, uninformed decision. They make consumers feel like they have to act now or they'll lose out on a deal.
  • The price is very low: Be prepared to pay a fair price for quality work. Good contractors hire dependable employees and use quality materials – and that costs money. If a contractor is charging an extra low price, ask yourself why.
  • The job comes to you: Be cautious of anyone who comes to your home and asks to inspect your property. If it’s a scam, the scam artist will identify a "problem" you didn't know about, charge high prices for solutions, and make you feel like walking away would be a mistake.

Checking the License Is Important!

Hiring a licensed contractor gives consumers access to protections like CCB's mediation services.

Hiring an unlicensed contractor leaves homeowners few options when problems arise. Disputes between homeowners and unlicensed contractors can be settled in court, but many homeowners simply give up and hire a licensed contractor to repair the damage.