How do I find the right licensed contractor?
Make sure the contractor is licensed
All contractor advertisements—whether it be an ad in the phone book or newspaper, a flyer that shows up at your front door, or the company's name on the side of a truck—must have the contractor's state license number. You can check the license status online or call (800) 321-CSLB (2752).
Reminder symbolREMEMBER Most licensed contractors are competent, honest, hardworking and financially responsible. However, most of the problems CSLB sees could be prevented if homeowners knew their home improvement rights and took responsibility for their project. A responsible and informed consumer can work more effectively with reputable contractors, and avoid being victimized by unscrupulous or unlicensed operators.
Shop around before hiring a contractor
Get at least three written bids on your project, and make sure you're comparing bids based on identical plans, specifications, and scope of work. Do not automatically accept the lowest bid. In fact, you should beware of any bid that is substantially lower than the others. It probably indicates that the contractor made a mistake or is not including all the work quoted by his or her competitors. You may be headed for a dispute with your contractor if you accept an abnormally low bid. It also is possible that a low-bidding contractor may cut corners or do substandard work to make a profit.
