Hiring a Licensed Contractor Is Important

Many homeowners need to hire a contractor at one point or another.  Whether it is for handyman work and basic repairs, or a full scale remodel, contractors get the job done.

Many homeowners need to hire a contractor at one point or another.  Whether it is for handyman work and basic repairs, or a full scale remodel, contractors gets the job done.  It can be challenging to find the right contractor for the job but one thing you should always look for in a contractor is that they are licensed.  Anyone with a hammer and access to Youtube tutorials can call themselves a “handyman” or “contractor” but that does not mean they are qualified or capable.  It is important to protect yourself and get the most for your money by hiring only a licensed contractor for any home repair, service or remodeling work you need.

One of the most important reasons to hire a licensed contractor is to protect you.  Should there ever be a dispute between you and your contractor, a licensed contractor is legally obligated to participate in arbitration.  If you hire an unlicensed contractor and have a dispute, you may have no recourse or protection and could potentially lose out on a lot of money.  Bonus – if you select a licensed contractor you can check with your state licensing agency to see if you the contractor you have selected has had any disputes with past clients.  A competent and capable contractor will always be licensed.  No ifs, ands, or buts about it.  It may be tempting to take a lowball bid form an unlicensed contractor but it could end up costing you – big – in the long run.  After all, an unlicensed contractor is only able to provide such a low bid because they have fewer expenses.  They may not be paying for important insurance, bonding, licensing. Hiring an unlicensed contractor, even if it saves money in the short term, could cost you in the long term they may not have workers compensation insurance and, should they get injured on your property, you could be liable for the cost of their injuries.

Further, it is important to hire a licensed contractor because they know they must acquire appropriate permits for certain renovations but unlicensed contractors may not know or care to acquire said permits.  If the work completed required permits and you do not get them it could diminish your property value significantly.  It may be hard to choose to pay more money for a licensed contractor but you will have important added protection and recourse, and will likely have far better craftsmanship – ensuring your renovation or handyman work adds value to your home, rather than costing you significant money.