Building Code Services Division (BCSD) recently instituted a web based Time Management System (TMS) that has revolutionized Building Services.

“This is significantly streamlining the way we conduct business,” reports Armando Linares , Director of BCSD. “By eliminating administrative hours spent in producing timesheets and increasing productivity and efficiency, while at the same time improving customer service.”

The Time Management System was developed in-house, relying on the expertise of Enterprise Technology Services' Luis Martinez , BCSD managers and various technical support staff. To date, more than 60 County vehicles assigned to Building Code Inspectors have been successfully converted into mobile offices equipped with mounted laptops.

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Make Sure Your Contractor Is Licensed

To check on the status of your contractor, or to file a complaint, call the Broward County Central Examining Boards (Local Licensing/Complaints) at 954-765-4400 or the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (State Licensing/Complaints) at 954-917-1333. In addition, consider the following when working with a contractor:
Ask for references.
Check references by calling persons for whom the contractor has done work.
Ask how long the contractor has been in business.
Check the contractor's reputation with local suppliers.
Check with your local Building Department.
Get any proposal, contract or agreement in writing and read all the fine print.
Obtain a current copy of the contractor's insurances including worker's compensation, property damage and liability.
Avoid any contractor who requires large advance payments.
Avoid paying cash, and make all payments by check to the company contracted to do the work. Do not write a check to cash or to an individual's name.

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BE ON THE LOOK OUT!

In the critical weeks following a significant storm event, staff from the Building Code Services Division’s Contractor Licensing and Enforcement Section (CLE section) routinely partner with other state and local agencies and organize “sweeps” to field check contractor licenses.

Recently, Broward County and Miami-Dade County orchestrated the first joint commercial vehicle observation stop point to target unlicensed contractors. This operation proved to be a successful way of monitoring contractors working in the tri-county area to check for proper licenses and insurance. During the first two hours of the stop points, the combined efforts netted over 125 violations.

This type of proactive enforcement proved to be a very effective way to curtail unlicensed contractors from victimizing the public. The CLE Section continues to remain active. You will often see them in their marked County vehicles canvassing neighborhoods throughout the day and on weekends when it's convenient to speak with homeowners about the pitfalls of hiring unlicensed contractors. They are always in easily identified uniforms and are there to help you become a community watchdog distributing information for the BOLO Program which provides valuable consumer skills aimed at recognizing the fakes.

The staff of the CLE Section relies on the BOLO Program attitude to sift out the unlicensed, unscrupulous contractors who seem to specialize in roof repairs and window replacements around the time of our hurricane season. With the assistance and support of informed residents this mission will be accomplished. So please…Be On the Look Out!

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The best tool in the tool box to stop unlicensed contractors is Public Education!

Education continues to be the most effective tool in building Broward County resident’s awareness about the dangers of hiring unlicensed contractors. The Building Code Services Division continues its proactive approach of promoting public education by coordinating with other educational facilities. A presentation titled “The Dangers of Hiring Unlicensed Contractors” was recently reviewed with a criminology class at FIU. Students were so receptive with the information that arrangements are underway to present it as training to future classes.

County Investigators interact with communities and rotate their attendance at monthly neighborhood association and civic group meetings as a proactive way to keep communities well informed about fraudulent contractors that may be operating in their vicinity. Presentations can be scheduled in advance for any organization that would like to learn tips about preventing unlicensed work on their property – it’s an entertaining discussion with handout materials available for those who attend. For more information, please contact us at 954-765-4400.

You can also visit the Building Code Services Division’s interactive website to access valuable links to research and verify contractor license information. Click here for a direct link to their page.

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Alternative Dispute Resolution:
Homeowner Mediation Reimbursement

The money collected through any reimbursement stems from the mediation process that occurs between a homeowner that has filed a formal complaint and the unlicensed contractor and/or licensed contractor in which the complaint has been filed against.

As a dispute resolution alternative, a mediation reimbursement process was initiated in 2005 by the Contractor Licensing and Enforcement Section of the Broward County Building Code Services Division. In cases involving unlicensed contractors, if both parties can mutually agree during the homeowner mediation reimbursement process often the best resolution is to have the unlicensed contractor reimburse the total amount of construction money originally received from the homeowner. This assists the homeowner recover from any financial harm caused by the illegal construction and enables the homeowner to properly hire a licensed contractor to complete the work in accordance with the Florida Building Code.

In the end, many of those same unlicensed contractors continue learning valuable lessons of how important obtaining the required trade license is before soliciting work. Even though they may have completed the work, they soon find out their unpaid sales contracts that they negotiated as unlicensed contractors are also unenforceable in a court of law. And for the ones that participated in the mediation, they are advised up front that after making the reimbursements to the homeowners they will still receive citations for breaking the law. Ouch, very expensive lessons!!!

In the inaugural fiscal year of 2005, approximately $300,000 in reimbursements went back to Broward County residents. In fiscal year 2006, the Contractor Licensing and Enforcement Section assisted homeowners receiving mediation reimbursements that exceeded $600,000. If you have knowledge of any Broward County resident that may have been deceived by an unlicensed contractor or a licensed contractor that did not perform work per the terms of a contract or failed to obtain the required permits or inspections as required, please click here to visit the website
to access the complaint form and instructions.

An update - several of the unlicensed contractors that were originally fined have gradually been able to meet the insurance and business requirements to qualify through the testing and certification process and are now legitimate licensed contractors! A great outcome that is a true Win-Win situation for everyone!

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Lend a Helping Hand

Volunteer Broward
Volunteer Broward Provides a central focus for the development, growth and coordination of volunteer activities and services within Broward County. Call 954-522-6761 or email contactus@volbroward.org for information on New Volunteer orientations.

"Neighbors to the Rescue"
This program of Volunteer Broward will teach you everything you need to know to volunteer safely, and then send you on a worthwhile mission to help your neighbors in need. Call 954-522-6761 or visit www.volunteerbroward.org.

Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
Take an active role in helping others respond to and recover from a storm. CERT offers basic skills training in disaster preparedness through fire, police and other emergency management agencies that will enable you to assist. Call Broward Emergency Management at 954-831-3900.

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