WASHINGTON -- With the recent housing boom, many people who have been hiring contractors feel like they've been left scammed.

That's because the building and renovation boom has caused a permit backlog. The backlog means that more people now getting the repair work have either by-passed the permit process or are not licensed at all.

Several area homeowners said they have been forced to wait and, in some cases, are cheated out of money put down on a repair.

Rick Carbonaro is out more than $4,000. He had put the money down on new windows, but never got them.

Carbonaro said he confronted the contractor, but still did not get his money back.

"He wrote me a check for my money back. Of course, I went to the bank to cash it and there's no money in his account," said Carbonaro.

Carbonaro said he tried to get help with the situation but because the contractor wasn't licensed in Maryland there is little recourse.

Carbonaro has since filed a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.

Andrea Kisiner said a kitchen-remodeling job was her downfall.

"So, from five weeks to three months, it took more than twice as long as promised," said Kisiner.

Kisiner said that during that time, she came home to more than a dozen mistakes, from the molding to the cabinet handles. "If I didn't stay on top of it like I was the contractor, it just would get done. It would be wrong."

A company called Urban Referrals connects reputable contractors with homeowners and makes sure projects run smoothly.

"The homeowner is much better off going with a licensed home improvement contractor. There are protections built in for the homeowner when they use a licensed person," said Patrick Canavan of the D.C. Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs. "They're gonna be more expensive but in the end it's gonna save you a lot of headaches. And don't just take their word. Check with licensing agencies to see if it's valid."

Experts said a checklist for finding a contractor should also include:

• A certificate of insurance
• Call references: recent clients/ vendors
• Agreed upon start and end dates in writing

Next week, the District will launch a new office to help people navigate through contractor chaos. Maryland and Virginia already have similar offices for consumers.

News4's Jim Handly will be talking more about contractors on Monday on News4 at 4. If you have questions or would like to share some of your secrets for finding good contractors, Click Here.

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