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Top Ten Tips for Hiring a Contractor

By
Home Builder with Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 CSL#642819


 
Top Ten Tips for Hiring a Contractor:


1.Hire only state-licensed contractors

2.Check a contractor’s license number online at www.cslb.ca.gov or by calling 800.321.CSLB (2752).

3.Get at least three bids.

4.Get three references from each bidder and review past work in person.

5.Make sure all project expectations are in writing and only sign the contract if you completely understand the terms.

6.Confirm that the contractor has workers’ compensation insurance for employees.

7.Never pay more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less. Don’t pay in cash.

Cash to Contractor

8.Don’t let payments get ahead of the work.

9.Keep a job file of all papers relating to your project, including all payments. 

10. Don’t make the final payment until you’re satisfied with the job.


The governing body here in California is the California State Licensing Board, your local state may have different suggestions for hiring. 

 

Comments (31)

Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Debbie, California requires workman's comp also. If you have no employees, you can get an exemption. The common problem is for those with the exemption, who then hire employees and not get insurance. Another situation is that the insurance is cancelled or runs out.

As far as the material payments, we can require payment upon delivery of the goods. 

Jan 02, 2012 11:19 AM
Rob Kittle
Kittle Real Estate - Fort Collins, CO
"We Specialize, You Benefit!" -Kittle Real Estate

Great List tom! Congratulations for a successful 2011! Your a go to guy when it comes to construction in California.

Jan 02, 2012 01:25 PM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

Tom these are some great tips.  Thanks for the post and have a Happy New Year.  

Jan 02, 2012 01:31 PM
Sheila Newton Team Anderson & Greenville SC
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices - C. Dan Joyner - Anderson, SC
Selling the Upstate since 1989

amazing how some people don't even ask if the contractor is licensed

Jan 02, 2012 02:40 PM
Mary Macy
Top Agents Atlanta Metro - Roswell, GA
Top Agents Atlanta Metro

Good list, I think I will do something very similar for my state of Georgia, thanks for the inspiration, I suggested!!!!

Jan 02, 2012 02:43 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Thanks for the vote of confidence Rob. I hope that I can help others in some way.

Jan 02, 2012 02:53 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

They are important tips that we should all do, myself included, before we hire a contractor Gene.

Jan 02, 2012 02:53 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

It is amazing, to see that happen. Maybe they don't understand the risk that they are taking Sheila.

Jan 02, 2012 02:54 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Suggested? Thanks! 

Each state does have some slightly different tips, but the core ideas will be the same Mary. Thanks forthe comment.

Jan 02, 2012 02:55 PM
Jerry Newman
Brown Realty, 210-789-4216, - San Antonio, TX
Texas REALTOR, San Antonio Military Relocation

Tom, These are some great 10 tips to know, and to pass on to our clients too. Thanks for putting this list together. This will certainly make a Great re-blog.

Suggested!!

Jan 03, 2012 01:05 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Thanks for the re-blog and suggestion, what an honor!

I wish more would follow the ten tips, there would be less complications later.

Thanks for stopping by Jerry.

Jan 03, 2012 02:37 PM
Sherry Peckhoon Sim
Sims & Company - Cayucos, CA
Broker/Owner, Covering the Beautiful Central Coast

Hi Tom

Thanks for the post. Good information to use as a guide for our own use and to share with clients.  

Mar 04, 2012 06:28 PM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Thanks for reading the post and commenting Sherry.

I hope that it will help you.

Mar 04, 2012 10:43 PM
Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-939-2727
Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA
Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Loved these tips Tom - 

Good to repeat often during the year.

Have a happy day -
Lynn 

Nov 28, 2012 09:42 PM
Kevin J. May
Florida Supreme Realty - Hobe Sound, FL
Serving the Treasure & Paradise Coasts of Florida

Good Morning Tom, I got here thanks to Lynn.  These tips would make a great poster inside any municipality's building department.  So glad you posted it here too!

Nov 28, 2012 09:51 PM
Hella Mitschke Rothwell
(831) 626-4000 - Honolulu, HI
Hawaii & California Real Estate Broker

Tom: You always have the best advice. Anyone who does not follow this particular one is doing so at their peril. Usually those who do NOT hire licensed contractors, think they are saving money. But these people get ripped off in so many ways.

Nov 29, 2012 12:23 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

Thank you Lynn for the reblog, I too have to be reminded of the importance of these tips.

Nov 29, 2012 07:53 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

 

Kevin - I appreciate you stopping in and commenting. the tips are good for the client as well as the contractor himself.

Nov 29, 2012 07:53 AM
Tom Arstingstall, General Contractor, Dry Rot, Water Damage Sacramento, El Dorado County - (916) 765-5366
Dry Rot and Water Damage www.tromlerconstruction.com Mobile - 916-765-5366 - Placerville, CA
General Contractor, Dry Rot and Water Damage

 

You will have to ask my boys about the "best advice" idea, they may have a different view.  :)

The tips have been proven, it would be a shame to learn the hard way, but people still do.

Thanks Hella.

Nov 29, 2012 07:54 AM
Anonymous
Kenneth R.

If the Legislature intended to create a new category of licensed contractor—one who “oversees” construction, but does not perform or propose to perform a work of construction—something like the original version of the bill would have been adopted instead of the very narrow amendment that we have. So, unless the community manager or his or her company was performing, or offering to perform a work of construction, they do not need a contractor’s license.

Sep 06, 2015 12:03 PM
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