Hiring A Contractor.

Hiring A Contractor. Reprinted from the archives of Big Bear Magazine. © 2005 Big Bear Magazine.
Questions & Answers Question: We are in the process of hiring a contractor in Big Bear, for various home improvements, and we want to make sure he's legitimate. What do we look for? How do we protect ourselves?

Every licensed contractor carries a "pocket license," or "pocket ID," which identifies the individual contractor, or the business name under which the contractor is working. In California, any job that costs $600 or more MUST be performed by a contractor who holds a current, valid license.
According to the CALIFORNIA STATE LICENSE BOARD, unlicensed contractors, who may present a lower bid, and talk you into being your own general contractor, or "Owner/ Builder," may be doing you no favor. YOU, not the person you hire, assume responsibility for the overall job, which includes such things as state and federal taxes, workers compensation, and other legal liabilities." Should you have a complaint or not be satisfied with your project, you have very little legal re¬course with unlicensed individuals.
When you hire a licensed professional to handle your project, you hire a person or company experienced in building, as well as the business of construction. You also have the backing of the CALIFORNIA STATE LICENSE BOARD to assist if problems arise.
Contractors may not work under an¬other person's license. That would be the same scenario as someone driving under another person's driver’s license. Not legal, not valid.delete that contractor from your list of professionals! Make sure the license you see belongs to the person you hire!
Always take the time to verify the status of the license. A license number does not verify its validity. You can easily check this by calling the CONTRACTORS STATE LICENSE BOARD at 800-321-2752, or visiting www.cslb.com. Take the time to check your contractor and you will avoid problems down the line.
Before you begin any remodeling project, have a contract, in writing that clearly specifies the work to be done by your contractor.
In almost all cases, the law requires a contractor to give you “written notice of your right to cancel a contract within three business days of signing it.” According to the CSLB, you should “use these three days to review the contract again.” If something bothers you, the time to discuss it with your contractor is now, not after the work begins.
Check that your scope of work is specified completely. For example, if the contractor is to "supply and install" your faucet, make sure this is in writing. If your contractor will "install" a client- supplied faucet, make sure that is also in writing. Remember, the contract is your job outline, and it should detail exactly what will happen with your project, and who will supply what items.
Make sure your contract includes everything you feel is important to the job including complete clean-up and removal of debris and materials, and special requests like saving lumber for firewood or saving certain materials or appliances.
Finally, make sure your payment schedule is included in your contract, up front. California law requires that "the amount of down payment for any home improvement contract may not exceed $1,000 or ten percent of the contract price, whichever is less." Make sure additional payments do not get ahead of the contractor's work.
For example, payments for a new garage might read: Completion of grading, completion of slab, completion of framing, completion of electrical, etc. The entire schedule, with exact amounts owing, should be spelled out and signed off by the homeowner. Your contract should "clearly state your final agreement and accurately reflect everything involved in the work being done by your contractor." And as with any legal contract, it must also include the name, physical address and license number of the contractor.

© 2005 HomeWork