What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor

Don’t get nailed by an unscrupulous or unlicensed contractor. Before you hire a contractor or sign a contract for property repair, the California Contractors State License Board advises:

Home improvement and repair projects have provided scam artists opportunities to make money from other people’s loss and suffering!
Don’t rush into the repairs, no matter how badly they are needed!
Don’t hire the first contractor who comes along.
Don’t be victimized by someone making a door-to-door presentation, offering to do repair jobs or home improvement on-the-spot, and requiring a cash deposit. An enterprising contractor may take the door-to-door sales approach. However, even on the smallest job, you must get proof that the person you are dealing with has a contractor’s license in the trade for which you expect to have the work done. Get a written contract that contains all the details of the job to be performed.
Deal only with licensed contractors. Consumers have very little, if any recourse against unlicensed contractors.
Ask to see the contractor’s “pocket license” or Home Improvement Sales (HIS) registration. All contractors are issued pocket licenses which show the type of trade for which they are licensed and the expiration date of the license. Ask to see some additional form of identification so you know who you are dealing with. If the person says he or she is representing a contractor, but can’t show you a contractors license or HIS registration, then call the contractor and find out if the person you are dealing with is authorized to act on behalf of the contractor.
Call the Contractors Board to verify the information provided by the bidding contractor or salesperson, including the name of the person and the name on the license… is the person you are dealing with a legitimate representative of a licensed contractor with a clean record?
Get at least 3 bids and ask for references of work the contractor has completed in the local area.
Contact the people provided as references by the bidding contractor and ask questions that will help you decide whether the contractor you are considering hiring will satisfy your needs. This takes time, but saves money and aggravation in the long run.
Don’t pay cash, don’t let the payments get ahead of the work completed, and don’t pay the full cost of the job up-front.
Under state law, when undertaking a property improvement or repair job,contractors cannot ask for a deposit of more than 10% of the total cost of the job or $1,000, whichever is less…unless the contractor provides a bond, approved bond equivalent, or approved joint control ensuring completion of your contract. Any such bond is in addition to the bond required of all contractors for licensure.
Require a written contract with the contractor’s license number on it, and don’t sign until you fully understand the terms. Remember, if it’s in the contract, you can expect to have it done. If it’s not there, even with a verbal promise, you may not get what you think you are paying for.
When you call the Contractors Board to check on the contractor, be prepared with the contractor’s name, license number, and business address.

You can do more to protect yourself from problems with contractors than the Contractors State License Board can do to help you after you are harmed.

The Board has produced two outstanding, easy-to-read publications to help consumers properly plan for and make informed decisions about dealing with contractors.

“What You Should Know Before You Hire a Contractor” contains 34 pages with all you need to:

select a reputable and qualified contractor
negotiate a clear contract
prevent disputes with the contractor
resolve disputes when they arise.

“A Consumer Guide to Asbestos” is a 12-page booklet containing information to help building owners identify asbestos and the precautions needed to prevent harmful exposure to asbestos when planning for and undertaking its removal.

This booklet also describes the steps that should be taken when contracting with a company to remove asbestos.

Want to find out more? These two booklets, plus lots more helpful information, can be found at The California State License Bureau Site.