Contractor Licensing

If you are having a home built or some other project done and want to hire a contractor then it is important that you are assured that this individual is licensed. Using someone who is licensed will protect you because the state licensing board will help you if the individual you hire gives you a problem.

Many times tradesmen that are paid hourly wages are not required to be licensed. An exception to this is with plumbers and electricians. When it comes to a contractor, they are required to be licensed if they are doing a higher paying job. If they will be making a higher amount then it is likely that they are required by the state to be licensed. As you are looking at contractors to hire, make sure that they do not lead you to believe otherwise.

Part of being a licensed contractor in the area of construction is also being insured. These contractors must have worker's compensation and liability insurance, and they should be willing to show proof of this information to you if you are looking at hiring them. This is very important for you because you could end up having to pay if the individual has an accident while working on your property.

It is not wise to hire those who are not licensed and insured. You will not have backing for yourself if a problem occurs on your property. So much can happen at a construction site. Mistakes can be made in the building of the home, and serious accidents can happen. If you hire someone without a license they may not be honest, and they may take advantage of you or even just leave you with a mess.

As you are researching your area contractors to find the right one to work in your home, make sure to look up the various individuals on a contractor's license website. You should be able to select the state in which you are living to see if you can find the various names of those you are considering. If they are not listed on this site then you will probably not want to hire them. Even though the work crew may not be required to be licensed if they are hourly and not in plumbing or electrical, it might be wise to ask if the crew is licensed.

Once you do hire a contractor that is licensed and insured, and you know it because you did the necessary research, it should be reassuring to you. It is always good to know that you have back-up from the state licensing board should something happen in the process of working with an individual or company.