NOTICE TO OWNER


(Business & Professions Code Section 7018.5 - Contractors License Law)

THE LAW REQUIRES THAT, BEFORE A LICENSED CONTRACTOR CAN ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH YOU FOR A WORK OF IMPROVEMENT ON YOUR PROPERTY, HE MUST GIVE YOU A COPY OF THIS NOTICE.

MECHANIC'S LIEN WARNING: Anyone who helps improve your property, but who is not paid, may record what is called a mechanic's lien on your property. A mechanic's lien is a claim, like a mortgage or home equity loan, made against your property and recorded with the county recorder. Even if you pay your contractor in full, unpaid subcontractors, suppliers, and laborers who helped to improve your property may record mechanic's liens and sue you in court to foreclose the lien. If a court finds the lien is valid, you could be forced to pay twice or have a court officer sell your home to pay the lien. Liens can also affect your credit. To preserve their right to record a lien, each subcontractor and material supplier must provide you with a document called a '20-day Preliminary Notice.' This notice is not a lien. The purpose of the notice is to let you know that the person who sends you the notice has the right to record a lien on your property if he or she is not paid. BE CAREFUL. The Preliminary Notice can be sent up to 20 days after the subcontractor starts work or the supplier provides material. This can be a big problem if you pay your contractor before you have received the Preliminary Notices. You will not get Preliminary Notices from your prime contractor or from laborers who work on your project. The law assumes that you already know they are improving your property. PROTECT YOURSELF FROM LIENS. You can protect yourself from liens by getting a list from your contractor of all the subcontractors and material suppliers that work on your project. Find out from your contractor when these subcontractors started work and when these suppliers delivered goods or materials. Then wait 20 days, paying attention to the Preliminary Notices you receive. PAY WITH JOINT CHECKS. One way to protect yourself is to pay with a joint check. When your contractor tells you it is time to pay for the work of a subcontractor or supplier who has provided you with a Preliminary Notice, write a joint check payable to both the contractor and the subcontractor or material supplier. For other ways to prevent liens, visit CSLB's Website at www.cslb.ca.gov or call CSLB at 800- 321-CSLB (2752). REMEMBER, IF YOU DO NOTHING, YOU RISK HAVING A LIEN PLACED ON YOUR HOME. This can mean that you may have to pay twice, or face the forced sale of your home to pay what you owe.

Information about the Contractors State License Board (CSLB): CSLB is the state consumer protection agency that licenses and regulates construction contractors. Contact CSLB for information about the licensed contractor you are considering, including information about disclosable complaints, disciplinary actions and civil judgments that are reported to CSLB. Use only licensed contractors. If you file a complaint against a licensed contractor within the legal deadline (usually four years), CSLB has authority to investigate the complaint. If you use an unlicensed contractor, CSLB may not be able to help you resolve your complaint. Your only remedy may be in civil court, and you may be liable for damages arising out of any injuries to the unlicensed contractor or the unlicensed contractor's employees. For more information: Visit CSLB's Web site at www.cslb.ca.gov Call CSLB at 800-321-CSLB (2752) Write CSLB at P.O. Box 26000, Sacramento, CA 95826.  Contractors are required by law to be licensed and regulated by the Contractors State License Board, which has jurisdiction to investigate complaints against contractors if a complaint regarding a patent act or omission is filed within four years of the date of the alleged violation.  A complaint regarding a latent act or omission pertaining to structural defects must be filed within ten years of the date of the alleged violation. Any questions concerning the contractor may be referred to the Registrar, Contractors State License Board, P.O. Box 26000, Sacramento, California 95826.

WARRANTY INFORMATION

(1) The warranties are effective only if Owner has complied with all Terms and Conditions, payments and other provisions of this Contract. The warranties become void: if the pool is not kept full except for a 10 day maintenance period   each year, if the pool is damaged by reason of the water table rising above the lowest point of the pool when the pool is not kept full, or by reason of any earth or fill ground movement, acts of God, war, riots or other civil disturbances, or by acts of others, or if the Owner fails to comply with decking installation requirements set forth by the Contractor.

(2) Defects and failures resulting from mistreatment or neglect by Owner will be repaired or serviced at Owner's expense.

(3) Where Owner has work performed by others that is not provided for in this Contract such as, but not limited to, electrical panel changes, landscaping and erection of fences and retaining walls- the Contractor does not guarantee or warrant such work and the Contractor shall not be held liable for such work or for loss or damages if any, which may result therefrom.

(4) All implied warranties, including any implied warranty of merchantability or fitness, are limited in duration of one year. The Contractor shall in no event be liable for special or consequential damages. Some states do not allow limitations on how long an implied warranty lasts, or the exclusion or limitation of incidental or consequential damages, so the above limitations may not apply to you, the Owner.