When you are ready to do a major renovation on your home or business, it is a significant financial investment. Working with your contractor is going to require you to rely on their expertise to complete the project on time and on budget. You are also relying on the fact that they know the latest building codes and can make sure that your project passes all the necessary inspections. That is why verifying their certification or license are valid is important.
After all, depending on the state, they may have to recertify or update their license annually or within a specific period of time. It can be easy for them to miss those deadlines and thus keep working under a license that is no longer valid.
Working with a licensed contractor can help to increase the likelihood that they will have the knowledge and experience to handle your project, but also that they will have contractors insurance. That insurance will include liability insurance if something were to go wrong. With all that in mind, why should you check on your contractor’s license? Here are 3 reasons.
- To pull building permits
In many different states, only a licensed contractor can pull building permits. If your contractor does not have a license or says that building permits are not necessary, it could put your project at risk of not passing inspections. Worse yet, if it was not permitted, then when you sell your home that can devalue your property. Projects that were not permitted could also be requested to be pulled down and rebuilt, all out of your pocket. Then there are fines and the list can go on and on.
- Find out what they are licensed for
It might be surprising but there are contractors out there that are not always honest. They may tell you they have plumbing or electrical experience, only to find out later that they do not have the experience to complete the project. That can lead to delays or even worse, damage to your home. By checking their contractors license, then you can verify what they have told you is accurate.
- Determine if they have Contractors insurance
Finally, you check on a contractors license, then you can also do a check to verify if they have contractors insurance. As a contractor, having insurance serves as a protection for your business if there are issues or problems on a project. Additionally, as a homeowner, your contractor having contractors insurance means that you can get your project completed by another contractor if necessary without suffering a huge financial loss.
How To Check the Validity of a Contractor’s License?
Today, there are many different websites available that allow you to look up a contractor by the state that they claim to be licensed in. The truth is that even if they show you their license, it might no longer be valid. Doing a check on their license ensures that you know their license is valid and up to date. Plus, many of these searches are free or fairly inexpensive, depending on how extensive a search you want completed on your contractor.
As a contractor, having a valid license and insurance are key to meeting the needs of your homeowners and passing their checks on your background and experience. If you are a licensed contractor and looking for contractors insurance near me, then we can help you find the right fit to meet your needs. Contact us today to learn more!
Top Contractors Insurance Services is a full-service contractor insurance agency handling workers compensation, general liability, construction bonds, and auto quotes.