Does My General Contractor Need To Be Licensed?

Hiring a contractor can be a difficult and stressful process. Licensing, bonding and insurance for contractors should all be a consideration in your hiring procedure.

Licensing

Every state has different licensing requirements for home-building contractors, but a good rule of thumb is that your contractor should be licensed, insured and bonded, and should be able to provide references. Even if licensing isn’t required by your state, or if licensing regulations are lax, an unlicensed contractor may make costly mistakes in your home renovation projects, or may be inexperienced and unable to complete projects as planned. Check with your state’s licensing board to find out what kind of requirements they might have for contractors in your state, and always check references to find out what quality of work you can expect.

For Your Protection

Licensing, bonding and insurance for contractors are all there to protect your home. If you hire a contractor who doesn’t come equipped with all three of these, you may find yourself forced to cover the costs of hiring a second contractor to fix poor work from the first, or in the event of an injury, you may be responsible for medical costs. Although it may be a cheaper option to hire an unlicensed or uninsured contractor, it is never worth the cost.

Never Take the Risk

If you’re unsure if your contractor is properly licensed, bonded and insured, ask. They should be able to provide documentation for all three. Check expiration dates as well, since a policy that isn’t current won’t do you any good. Make or request copies of this documentation for your records in case the unthinkable should happen.

Any time you engage in a home improvement project, request proof of licensing, bonding and insurance for contractors with whom you’ll be working. Remodeling can be stressful, but if you and your contractor are always prepared for the worst, you can relax knowing that you’re covered.