According to a January 24, 2013 article in the Asbury Park Press, New Jersey has issued more than 1,200 registrations to home improvement contractors since Hurricane Sandy hit the Jersey Shore.

A significant number of these contractors have flocked to NJ from out of state to cash in on the devastation caused by the storm. They are easy to identify: just look for the trucks with the magnetic logo listing a NJ Home Improvement License Contractor Number but with out-of-state license plates.

A number of these out-of-state contractors are in fact scam artists with little or no renovation or construction experience.  These unscrupulous individuals target exhausted and vulnerable homeowners and victimize them in a variety of ways including:

• Taking project deposits and performing no work at all
• Grossly overcharging for standard materials and repair work
• Delivering repair work that is insufficent to address the damage
• Performing work of questionable quality

This victimization can be compounded when the homeowner has no recourse against the "contractor" because they have no local business operation (and typically are not even a registered business at all) and so cannot be located and held accountable to the NJ State fraud authorities.

Why take a chance on a contractor who has no ties to New Jersey when you could hire a Jersey Shore native who, like you, was directly impacted by the storm?  Joe Wehner & Sons Contracting, LLC has been a fixture at the shore for years. Growing up in Brick, Joe spent his summers on the beaches of Monmouth and Ocean Counties – and has been working diligently to help his friends and family rebuild their storm ravaged homes.

You can research the business details of any contractor with a Home Improvement Contractor License Number (HICLN)at this State of NJ Division of Consumer Affairs web page.  You need only enter the HICLN to run the search.  We invite you to check us out; our HICLN is: 13VH05509500.

Also, be sure to read the Monmouth County Prosecutor's Office Sandy Fraud Task Force flyer for helpful guidance on avoiding scams related to the Hurricane.

Think twice before hiring someone who has come here just to profit from your misfortune. Don't become yet another victim of Sandy-related contractor fraud. Joe Wehner & Sons Contracting, LLC is committed to helping our neighbors affected by Sandy quality and we provide top-quality work at affordable prices. Give us a call today to see how we can help you.