NYC HOME IMPROVEMENT PRACTICE EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔What is the difference between a subcontractor and an employee? - ✔✔A
subcontractor is an individual in business for himself or a firm in business for itself
contracting to do part of a home improvement contract with a prime contractor. An
employee works for wages and is under the employer's (prime or subcontractor) direct
supervision and control.
✔✔What is net profit of a job - ✔✔Net profit is the final profit of any job after expenses.
✔✔Must a subcontractor be licensed by DCA - ✔✔Yes. A subcontractor as opposed to
an employee of a general contractor, must have a DCA license to perform home
improvement work in New York City
✔✔What are some of your Obligations with regard to employees? - ✔✔you must cover
employees with workers' Compensation and disability insurance. Must report employee
wages to the internal Revenue Service, and you must withhold taxes.
✔✔What is an additional obligation with regard to employees? - ✔✔You must comply
with the Federal Immigration laws, which require employers to ensure that employees
have legal authority to work in the united States.
✔✔Can a contractor elect to secure a bond or participate in DCA's Home improvement
Trust Fund? - ✔✔Yes. A contracor can either secure a bond or contribute to DCA's
home Imporovement Trust Fund Every Two Years
✔✔What is needed to paint the exterior of a house with more than one story? - ✔✔You
may require a suspended scaffold and a rigging permit from DOB to paint the
exterior of a home that is one story or more, unless you can use a ladder to do the job.
You must contact DOB for more information before beginning this work.
✔✔Whose responsibility is it to obtain an amended Certificate of Occupancy? - ✔✔If an
amended Certificate of Occupancy is needed, it is the contractor's responsibility to
obtain it for the consumer. A registered architect or professional engineer must file the
actual amended Certificate of Occupancy at DOB.
✔✔Is it necessary for a home improvement contractor to hire a licensed electrician to
do certain types of work? - ✔✔You must use a licensed electrician to install anything
having to do with light, heat, and power, regardless of voltage.
✔✔How must a contractor handle sales tax? - ✔✔Contractors must collect sales tax for
repairs from the consumer and pay it.
, ✔✔What type of work qualifies as a capital improvement? - ✔✔Adding a bathroom to a
home is an example of a capital improvement.
✔✔What type of work does not qualify as capital improvement - ✔✔Repairs such as
repairing a window frame or painting the living room do not
✔✔When adding an extension to a home, what is the first thing a contractor should
do before beginning work? - ✔✔The first thing a contractor should do before beginning
work on a home is to consult with a licensed architect or engineer—not DOB—to
determine if the owner can put in the extension and still comply with the applicable
zoning law.
✔✔Where does a contractor go to secure a permit for a dumpster that is placed on
the street? - ✔✔A Contractor should contact the DOT for a dumpster permit.
✔✔Does a home improvement contractor need a permit to perform sidewalk work? -
✔✔Yes. Sidewalk work requires a permit from DOT. Call 311
✔✔What should a contractor do to haul or transport waste resulting from home
improvement work? - ✔✔If you plan to haul or transport waste resulting from your
business operations, you must
obtain a Class One Self Hauler Registration from the New York City Business Integrity
Commission.
✔✔ DOB - ✔✔Department of Buildings
✔✔DCA - ✔✔Department of Consumer Affairs
✔✔DOT - ✔✔Department of Transportation
✔✔What is home improvement? - ✔✔The construction,repair, replacement, remodleing,
alteration, comversion, rehabilitation, renovation, modernization, improvement, or
addition to any land or building or any part of the land or building used or designed to be
used as a residence or dwelling place, including basements, driveways, fences,
garages, landscaping, patios, porches, sidewalks, swimming pools, and terraces.
✔✔What does home improvement include? - ✔✔-Central heating/air conditioning
- Central vacuum cleaning system
-Storm windows
-Awnings
-Communication systems
✔✔What is NOT home improvement? - ✔✔-Construction of a new home or building
- Sale of goods or materials in connection with the installation of or application of
AND ANSWERS MARKED A+
✔✔What is the difference between a subcontractor and an employee? - ✔✔A
subcontractor is an individual in business for himself or a firm in business for itself
contracting to do part of a home improvement contract with a prime contractor. An
employee works for wages and is under the employer's (prime or subcontractor) direct
supervision and control.
✔✔What is net profit of a job - ✔✔Net profit is the final profit of any job after expenses.
✔✔Must a subcontractor be licensed by DCA - ✔✔Yes. A subcontractor as opposed to
an employee of a general contractor, must have a DCA license to perform home
improvement work in New York City
✔✔What are some of your Obligations with regard to employees? - ✔✔you must cover
employees with workers' Compensation and disability insurance. Must report employee
wages to the internal Revenue Service, and you must withhold taxes.
✔✔What is an additional obligation with regard to employees? - ✔✔You must comply
with the Federal Immigration laws, which require employers to ensure that employees
have legal authority to work in the united States.
✔✔Can a contractor elect to secure a bond or participate in DCA's Home improvement
Trust Fund? - ✔✔Yes. A contracor can either secure a bond or contribute to DCA's
home Imporovement Trust Fund Every Two Years
✔✔What is needed to paint the exterior of a house with more than one story? - ✔✔You
may require a suspended scaffold and a rigging permit from DOB to paint the
exterior of a home that is one story or more, unless you can use a ladder to do the job.
You must contact DOB for more information before beginning this work.
✔✔Whose responsibility is it to obtain an amended Certificate of Occupancy? - ✔✔If an
amended Certificate of Occupancy is needed, it is the contractor's responsibility to
obtain it for the consumer. A registered architect or professional engineer must file the
actual amended Certificate of Occupancy at DOB.
✔✔Is it necessary for a home improvement contractor to hire a licensed electrician to
do certain types of work? - ✔✔You must use a licensed electrician to install anything
having to do with light, heat, and power, regardless of voltage.
✔✔How must a contractor handle sales tax? - ✔✔Contractors must collect sales tax for
repairs from the consumer and pay it.
, ✔✔What type of work qualifies as a capital improvement? - ✔✔Adding a bathroom to a
home is an example of a capital improvement.
✔✔What type of work does not qualify as capital improvement - ✔✔Repairs such as
repairing a window frame or painting the living room do not
✔✔When adding an extension to a home, what is the first thing a contractor should
do before beginning work? - ✔✔The first thing a contractor should do before beginning
work on a home is to consult with a licensed architect or engineer—not DOB—to
determine if the owner can put in the extension and still comply with the applicable
zoning law.
✔✔Where does a contractor go to secure a permit for a dumpster that is placed on
the street? - ✔✔A Contractor should contact the DOT for a dumpster permit.
✔✔Does a home improvement contractor need a permit to perform sidewalk work? -
✔✔Yes. Sidewalk work requires a permit from DOT. Call 311
✔✔What should a contractor do to haul or transport waste resulting from home
improvement work? - ✔✔If you plan to haul or transport waste resulting from your
business operations, you must
obtain a Class One Self Hauler Registration from the New York City Business Integrity
Commission.
✔✔ DOB - ✔✔Department of Buildings
✔✔DCA - ✔✔Department of Consumer Affairs
✔✔DOT - ✔✔Department of Transportation
✔✔What is home improvement? - ✔✔The construction,repair, replacement, remodleing,
alteration, comversion, rehabilitation, renovation, modernization, improvement, or
addition to any land or building or any part of the land or building used or designed to be
used as a residence or dwelling place, including basements, driveways, fences,
garages, landscaping, patios, porches, sidewalks, swimming pools, and terraces.
✔✔What does home improvement include? - ✔✔-Central heating/air conditioning
- Central vacuum cleaning system
-Storm windows
-Awnings
-Communication systems
✔✔What is NOT home improvement? - ✔✔-Construction of a new home or building
- Sale of goods or materials in connection with the installation of or application of
