More than 600 Mainers filed complaints about contractors doing unsatisfactory work — or not completing it at all — last year alone.
That’s slightly fewer than the 647 complaints the Maine attorney general’s office fielded in 2024, but still more than the previous two years, which each saw about 550 reports of bad contractors, according to Danna Hayes, the director of public affairs for the Office of the Maine Attorney General.
Maine doesn’t license or regulate home contractors, and the Attorney General’s Consumer Mediation Program receives more complaints about them than any other category of business, according to the Maine attorney general’s office.
Paying a contractor who doesn’t complete what they’re hired for, or doing sub-par work that needs to be fixed later, is yet another hurdle for homeowners struggling in the state’s pricey housing market. It can be especially harmful to those who bought a less expensive fixer-upper with dreams of slowly making improvements as they could afford them.
The hundreds of complaints also show how common the issue is in Maine.
A contractor performing inadequate or inferior work are two of the most common issues the Maine attorney general’s office receives each year. This could range from someone not applying for necessary permits to failing to install a subfloor when renovating a kitchen, Hayes said.
Contractors failing to complete work has been the most common complaint for five consecutive years, according to Hayes.
We assembled a guide for how Mainers can ensure they hire reputable contractors when they need work done on their home.
How to find a trustworthy contractor
If you don’t know how or where to find a contractor, start by visiting local supply yards — but not Home Depot or Lowes — to ask for a referral, recommended Kelly Flagg, executive director of Associated General Contractors of Maine.
“Suppliers know who the reliable and reputable professional builders are,” Flagg said.
Word of mouth recommendations from trusted family or friends who have had satisfactory work done is another way to find local contractors, Rick Violette, a Bangor-area general contractor, said.
Some online resources, like the Better Business Bureau, keep a database you can comb through to find nearby contractors who specialize in what you need done, such as bathroom or kitchen remodeling.
Maine Preservation, a statewide nonprofit that advocates for protecting historic properties, also keeps a list of professionals who will work on historic homes. However, the organization notes that being listed in the directory doesn’t mean the nonprofit endorses them.
Ways to vet a contractor
Once you’ve narrowed down some options, Violette said homeowners should ask for several things in addition to cost estimates.
First, ask for several references from people who have worked with the contractor before. If the contractor can’t produce references or examples of their previous work, that’s cause for concern.
But you must actually follow up with those who have worked with a contractor before, Flagg stressed.
“So often people ask for references but do not follow through,” Flagg said.
Property owners should ask references about the contractor’s quality of work, their punctuality and any other concerns they have, Violette said.
“Contractors often are juggling several projects and may have to jump back and forth between projects,” Violette said. “But, a well coordinated project often has specialty subcontractors — electricians, plumbers and HVAC technicians — jumping in during the general contractor’s absence.”
Aside from asking for work examples, Flagg said a homeowner should ask for a contractor’s professional certifications and proof of insurance before hiring them. Searching for their name in the attorney general office’s complaint filings could also help determine whether a worker has run into problems before.
The Maine registry of deeds also allows residents to search the name of someone they’re considering working with to see if they have liens placed against them due to poor or unfinished work. A lien is a court-ordered claim against someone’s property or assets that are placed to ensure a debt is paid.
Additionally, Violette warned homeowners to be wary of contractors who are available immediately, as “good, reputable contractors” usually have packed schedules, he said.
“If someone says they can start tomorrow, that’s often not a good sign,” Violette said.
Protections homeowners have against bad work
When it’s time to hire a contractor who seems trustworthy, Flagg said state laws are in place to protect homeowners, though many residents might not know what those protections look like.
First, written contracts are required for any home improvement projects that cost more than $3,000, and certain provisions must be included in that document.
Those provisions include the estimated dates when the work will begin and end, the total cost of the project, and a description of the work and materials that will be used, among other information.
If the price or scope of the project changes in any way, a written order outlining the tweaks must be signed by the homeowner, Flagg said. A contractor can’t do something differently without the homeowner’s knowledge or consent, then demand more money later.
The contract must also hold a workmanship warranty, which promises “the work will be free from faulty materials; constructed according to the standards of the building code applicable for this location; constructed in a skillful manner and fit for habitation or appropriate use,” the law states.
Lastly, a down payment for a project can’t be more than one-third of the total cost of the contract, unless both parties agree to pay more, the law states.
“Different contractors have different cash flow needs,” Violette said. “We generally try to cover our initial materials order up front, which usually isn’t even one-third. If a contractor demands more than one-third up front, that’s a huge red flag.”