Recently, I had to search out Roof Contractors to replace my roof. I learned a number of things. I took a few steps that helped me. There are multiple ways to check up on a contractor, and combining these methods gives you the best protection.
Step One: Check Their Website and Online Reviews
The first step is to check their website and for reviews to see if there are issues. Sometimes, the reviews can highlight an issue. This initial research can save you time before diving deeper into more formal verification processes.
Step Two: Get Multiple Written Quotes
You need to get multiple quotes (I got about 10) to see the variation in pricing. The bids varied by 100%. You could actually pay half by shopping around. Even ignoring the biggest difference in quotes, there was easily thousands of dollars in differences for the same work.
After I got multiple written bids (all bids need to be in writing). Do not go with any contractor that does not give you a written bid for the job. Another way to protect yourself is to seek out second, third or more opinions of the job for a quote and also to review any work in progress if you are concerned.
Step Three: Verify Their Contractor’s License
I checked the California State Contractor’s License Board (“CSLB”) number for each contractor I was considering to make sure that they a valid Contractors License. Go to www.cslb.ca.gov
And you can do a license check by the business name, license # or otherwise. If you don’t know how to do this, you can contact Nick Heimlich and he can look it up for you.
What I looked for at the State Contractor’s Board is to see the following:
- License is Valid
- Contractor’s Bond is lodged with state and still valid.
- Workers’ Compensation
Workers’ Compensation is making sure that your contractor has insurance if his workers get injured on the job. This is good because if one of their people gets injured, then there is insurance to pay, instead of having to deal with the insurance claim against your homeowner’s insurance or out of pocket.
Step Four: Check Court Records
I also checked the County Court Index for any cases against the Contractor’s. Attorney Nick Heimlich of San Jose, CA would also check the local court docket for a contractor (or his business) to see if they have had lawsuits in the past. If a Contractor has lots of lawsuits, then it might be a reason to be concerned. You should be aware that simply because a contractor has been sued, it does not mean there is something wrong as anyone can sue anyone. Lawsuits are not always a sign of a problem, but a litigation attorney like Nick Heimlich can help you review whether lawsuits may indicate an issue.
Checking court records and understanding legal implications of contractor disputes requires legal expertise. A knowledgeable business attorney can help you understand what red flags to look for in contractor litigation history.
Step Five: Check Secretary of State Records
You can also check the California Secretary of State for the active status of the Corporation, if the Contractor is a Corporation.
Step Six: Verify Permits with the City
You could contact the city and see if all proper permits have been done for your home improvement project. This is an often-overlooked step that can save you from costly code violations and ensure the work is being done legally.
Professional Contractor Vetting Service
As an attorney, Nick Heimlich, can check a few other areas for a contractor. If you want Nick Heimlich to do a check on a contractor, I can do a quick check of these over the phone (if you have the license # and Corporate name, etc) for $500 per contractor checked. Please be aware that a check does not guarantee or avoid all possible issues. This price is subject to based on current rates at the time of the request.
Sometimes, adding these things together you can come up with a picture on whether a contractor is reliable and whether you should enter into a project or be very careful if a project has begun.
When you need thorough contractor vetting with legal expertise, Nick Heimlich Law can perform comprehensive background checks that go beyond basic online searches.
Protect Your Investment with Professional Contractor Vetting
Don’t risk your money and property on unvetted contractors. Whether you’re hiring for roofing, construction, or other major projects, proper due diligence can save you thousands of dollars and prevent costly legal disputes.
Contact Nick Heimlich Law today to discuss our contractor vetting services or to get legal guidance on contractor agreements and disputes. Our comprehensive approach combines legal expertise with practical due diligence to help you make informed decisions about your contractors.
