When hiring people to work on your house, it is better to hire local contractors rather than out of state workers. Customers think they are getting a better deal by going with someone who is not licensed, but that is not always the case. And your uncle’s second cousin’s neighbor does not qualify.
If you hire a non licensed contractor that is from out of state, he may not have the proper insurances. Many states have requirements for licensed contractors. You may hire an out-of-state person that is cheaper but who do you go to if you have a problem? If he’s not local, he may be renting a place and staying here to work here temporally.
If you are looking for a contractor, there are some questions you as a homeowner need to ask.
1. How long he has been in the area? Is he from here? Has he lived here all his life?
2. Look at his reputation. Look at the jobs he has done. Does he have references?
3. Check out his insurance.
4. Should you hire someone who is not a contractor?
If you hire local you can go back to that local guy when problems arise. A licensed contractor may be a little higher but he has to cover workman’s comp and liability insurance. He must do the correct job to begin with because he would get known around town for doing bad work and his business would not grow.
Some people say that I am just trying to get them to hire a contractor. I am saying that I pay money to be licensed and to advertise. I keep up my licenses, and I do good work so that I can stay in business. Some people who get paid a lot less to do the same job because they don’t have insurance like workman’s comp or liability.
It is better to hire a state licensed contractor. He must have all the insurances. If a contractor has the insurances then he is a business man who wants to preserve his business. Who would you hire?
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