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Are You Licensed? This Often Asked Question Needs To Be Changed.

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

 

Are You Licensed?

This Often Asked Question Needs To Be Changed.

 

Anyone with a little time and money can go to their local governmental office and get a license. Licenses are issued every day in California for all sorts of businesses. That is not the license that you are asking about is it? Course not! You want to know if I am licensed as a general contractor in the State of California.

If you plan on hiring a contractor to do some work for you, it is very important that you ask the right questions.

The question needs to be,

Are you a licensed contractor with the State of California?

In order to get a contractor’s license, the contractor has to have had a number of years in the trade, pass a two part test, be bonded, and a few other things take make getting this license Licensed Contractor Californiadifficult. The license helps to insure that the workmanship and understanding of building construction is at a higher level. This is no guarantee, but you have a much better chance of getting a quality job done.

So be sure to be specific when you ask. Legally, if the project costs more than $500, including materials, the contractor needs to be licensed with the state.

The contractor must list his license number on all cards and advertising, so look for it! With that number it is easy to check to see if the contractor is in “good standing” with the State of California. Go to the California State Licensing Board web site, or click here, to check the license number.

 

The following was found on the CSLB web site and speaks volumes for hiring a licensed contractor.

 

REMEMBER 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.

Comments (42)

MichelleCherie Carr Crowe .Just Call. 408-252-8900
Get Results Team...Just Call (408) 252-8900! . DRE #00901962 . Licensed to Sell since 1985 . Altas Realty - San Jose, CA
Family Helping Families Buy & Sell Homes 40+ Years

Tom, great post-very useful for consumers. 

FYI Praful it's a requirement for CA RE agents to list their BRE # on most "first point of contact marketing materials".

Jan 11, 2014 02:10 PM
Anne M. Costello
Weidel Realtors - Yardley, PA

Tom: this is a much better question!

Jan 11, 2014 07:55 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Good advice, Tom. We have a similar licensing process in VA as well. There is a class C license that can be obtained without a test. The project value can't exceed $7800 in those cases, but a lot of damage can be done in that price range. 

Jan 11, 2014 10:11 PM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Tom, a friend of mine is a licensed contractor. He says his biggest concern is handymen working out of their trunks and undercutting the competition.

Jan 11, 2014 10:28 PM
John Anello, Stamford Area Electrician
Safe and Sound Electric LLC - Greenwich, CT
Call Safe and Sound Electric at 203-536-0021

Many people do not understand what it means to be a licensed contractor. Thanks for gettign the work out.

Jan 11, 2014 10:58 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 keeping me on the radar Thomas, I love getting those referrals.  :)

I will be visiting San Diego in a few months, maybe we can get together in your neck of the woods.

Jan 12, 2014 12:29 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

I'd love to get that call from you Hella, thanks for the endorsement. :)

Jan 12, 2014 12:29 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

I hope that the updates are also checked out Geoff. Having a list of qualified contractors right in the office for all to see and use.

Jan 12, 2014 12:31 AM
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

Always good to know what other states define as a contractor. On that note Oklahoma was one of the last states to license home inspectors. Does make one a good inspector just like some contractors aren't that great but it sure helps.

Jan 12, 2014 12:43 AM
Peter Pfann @ eXp Realty Pfanntastic Properties in Victoria, Since 1986.
eXp Realty, Victoria BC www.pfanntastic.com - Victoria, BC
Talk To or Text Peter 250-213-9490

Hi Tom,

Granted being licensed is a great start, in real estate that still does not mean a whole lot... Not sure about contracting, but I'm guessing that there are good and great "licensed" Contractors in California as well.

For educating us about this, I am certain you are part of the Excellent group....

Have a Great Week and a Pfanntastic 2014

Jan 12, 2014 12:43 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

I think in California, this needs to be done for all State licensed professions Praful.

Jan 12, 2014 12:44 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

Thanks Michelle. I think we have a duty to help the consumer to understand what is required of our professions.

Jan 12, 2014 12:44 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

 

That's a new one to me Mike, never heard of this before. I can see that this dollar level can open up some problems for the consumer if the work is not done right.

Jan 12, 2014 12:44 AM
Suzanne Otto
Six Twenty Designs - Lansdale, PA
Your Montgomery County PA home stager

Hopefully more customers will read this and ask the right questions up front. I hate it when you hear stories of jobs gone bad and the contractor wasn't even licensed with the state. It pays to do your due diligence!

Jan 12, 2014 12:48 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

In California, there has been an increase in "sting operations" to catch these sorts of businesses. Handyman, unlicensed contractor, and shadey characters working outside of the clearly stated laws are being arrested when caught. Not everyone gets nabbed, but the thret can be effective Michael.

 

Jan 12, 2014 12:50 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

John, I think we owe it to the community to explain this so that they are aware of what it means to be a licensed contractor in California. They don't know what they don't know!

 

Jan 12, 2014 12:50 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

It does help in weeding out those who are just dabbling in the trade doesn't it Joe. We still have to do our research, this just helps to narrow the field.

Jan 12, 2014 12:50 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

Thanks Peter, there are all types in all professions. If we keep the consumer aware of what the profession requires, and why, we are helping them to make an informed decision.

Jan 12, 2014 12:53 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 are so right about the due diligence Suzanne, the consumer must take the steps necessary to protect themselves. I too hate hearing those stories of "wrongs" done to the public.

Jan 12, 2014 12:53 AM
Rob Arnold
Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL
Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

Good advice on what to look for.  There are so many unlicensed people out there doing work. 

Jan 13, 2014 02:18 AM