Vermont maintains a list of registered contractors to avoid scammers for flood damaged homes

Vermont's latest round of flooding this month, and the damaged homes that resulted, is another chance for fraudsters to rip off homeowners, according to Vermont Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas.

"Among the challenges brought on by the flooding in our cities and towns, many homeowners have an urgent need for repair to damaged homes," Copeland Hanzas said in a statement. "This vulnerability can be an unfortunate target for fraud and scams."

In an effort to prevent vulnerable homeowners from being victimized, Vermont passed a law in 2022 that requires residential contractors who complete projects valued at more than $10,000, including labor and materials, to register with the Secretary of State's Office of Professional Regulation. Copeland Hanzas "strongly encourages" Vermonters to refer to her agency's interactive map when looking for a contractor.

"It's always a good idea for consumers to do their homework when hiring a contractor," Copeland Hanzas said. "Good practices include checking a contractor's registration with us, getting references, ensuring the business is insured, and putting any agreement in writing before work starts."

Make sure a contract is in place before work starts on your flood-damaged home

Residential contractors who are registered with OPR are required to have a contract in place before starting work and demonstrate they have insurance when they register with the state. If a qualifying contractor fails to register with OPR and is found to have done work without a contract in place, the contractor could be prosecuted by the OPR and suffer financial penalties, according to the Secretary of State's office.

Copeland Hanzas also highlighted the Attorney General's Home Improvement Fraud Registry as another way to check out contractors, and the Attorney General's Consumer Assistance Program, where people can file a complaint or report a scam.

Contact Dan D’Ambrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT.