When you call the Contractors State License Board to check on the contractor, be prepared with the contractor's name, license number, and business address.

Deal only with licensed contractors. Consumers have very little, if any recourse against unlicensed contractors.

You can do more to protect yourself from problems with contractors than the Contractors State License Board can do to help you after you've been harmed.

Ask yourself the following questions:

• Did you contact the Contractors State License Board (800) 321-CSLB to check the status of the contractor’s license? Check online, www.cslb.ca.gov

• Did you get at least 3 local references from the contractors you are considering? Did you call them?

• Building Permits – will the contractor get a permit before the work starts?

• Did you read and understand your contract?

• Does the 3-day right to cancel a contract apply to you? Contact the CSLB if you don’t know.

• Does the contract tell you when the work will start and end?

• Does the contract include a detailed description of the work to be done, the materials to be used, and equipment to be installed? This description should include brand names, model numbers, quantities and colors. Specific descriptions now will prevent disputes later.

• Are you required to pay a down payment? If you are, it should never be more than 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less.

• Is there a schedule of payments? If there is a schedule of payments, you should pay only as work is completed and not before. There are some ex-ceptions, contact the CSLB to find out what they are.

• Did your contractor give you a ‘Notice to Owner,’ a warning notice describing liens and ways to prevent them? Even if you pay your contractor, a lien can be placed on your home by unpaid laborers, sub-contractors or material suppliers. A lien can result in you paying twice or, in some cases, losing your home in a foreclosure. Check the ‘Notice to Owner’ for ways to protect yourself.

• Did you know changes or additions to your contract must all be in writing? Putting changes in writing reduces the possibility of a later dispute.