What you should know before hiring a CSLB contractor
- Plan your project carefully
Shop around before hiring a contractor.
- Don't be pressured into signing a contract on the spot
- Get at least three written bids on a project
- Check with your state contractors license board to see if contractor is properly licensed. (For California 1-800-321-CSLB)
- Look at work the contractor has completed for other clients
- Ask for at least ten references
- Assume nothing. Be sure everything you and your contractor have agreed to, is in writing and is in your contract
- Ask your contractor about any inconveniences that may occur and plan accordingly
- Keep a job file
- Make sure you receive lien releases from subcontractors and suppliers
- Make final inspection of work, including a final walk through.
- Only hire licensed contractors
- Never let your payments get ahead of the contractors completed work
- Find a contractor who has been in business for at least five years. Generally, that can be verified with licensing information
- Verify insurance such as workman's comp.
- Verify at least $1,000,000 in Property Liability Insurance
Be sure you contract includes
- Contractor's name, address, phone number, and license number
- Approximate dates for beginning and substantial completion
- Description of work to be done. Materials and equipment to be used and /or installed. Price for work.
- Schedule of payments in dollars and cents
Keep in mind
- If your job requires a permit, be sure your contractor provides you with one.
- If an offer seems to good to be true, it probably is.
- Make sure that all bids are based on the same set of specifications.
- Make sure you understand the reasons for any variations in price.
- A higher price may be justified if the materials to be used are of a higher quality, or the work is more extensive. For example, you are having a kitchen remodeled. If one bid is based on installing prefab cabinets in standard sizes, and another is based on custom cabinets, the prices will not be comparable.
- 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 competitor.
- Some contractors promise big discounts if you sign a contract on the spot. Often a better deal can be found just by getting another estimate.