DON’T GET SUED! Hire a licensed contractor.
It’s the time of the year again when home projects arise. Now the decision we all face is, to hire a licensed or unlicensed contractor?
Far too many times homeowners tend to lean towards unlicensed contractors to save a dollar or two. This practice can ultimately cost them thousands more in the long run. An unlicensed contractor may legally sue the homeowner if they are injured while working on their property. Thus, forcing a homeowner to pay for all the medical expenses associated with the injury. In addition, many unlicensed contractors simply do not have the proper knowledge/skill to execute the job properly. This can lead to a poor finished result. Fixing the issue will require hiring another company, resulting in paying for the same job twice. Save yourself a headache and make sure to hire only licensed contractors.
Here are the top 4 benefits of hiring a licensed contractor.
1. A licensed contractor MUST have insurance.
A licensed contractor must have liability insurance. Liability insurance will protect you, your family and your home if an incident were to occur. This insurance will cover any medical bills or damage that resulting from an incident.
2. A licensed contractor must pass state mandatory experience & examination.
In order to become a licensed contractor, an individual must provide qualifying experience and pass a mandatory examination in order to obtain a license. The licensing process will also require screening and background checks, guaranteeing each licensed contractor is approved to work in residential/commercial areas.
3. A licensed contractor will have all city/government requirements met.
If any inspections or permits are required a licensed contractor can pull the permit to proceed with the work required. This can be helpful when thinking about selling your home. A potential buyer may want to permits pulled on large home renovation projects.
4. A licensed contractor will complete the job CORRECTLY.
With so much training/experience, you have assured a licensed contractor will complete the job correctly. Hire once and have the job done and over with.
How to hire a licensed contractor and checking a contractor license.
Now that you know why you should always hire a licensed contractor, here are a few tips on what to do while the hiring process.
A licensed contractor will carry a CSLB (Contractor State License Board) ID CARD, make sure to ask to take a look at it. To verify the contractor is truly licensed in the field you are requested, simply check their license number online. Checking a license number is easy and only takes a few seconds. Checking a license number online will provide you with lots of useful information. This includes the type of work the contractor is licensed to perform, as well as insurance and business information. Below a link is provided to check a contractors license for active status.