Hiring a Contractor

Check out your Contractor

  • Did you contact the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) to verify that the Contractor is licensed to do the work you wish completed?
  • Did you verify that the Contractor is properly Bonded and Insured for the job to be completed?
  • Is the contractor you’ve chosen reputable in the area? If you do not trust the reputation, have you requested any professional references, and done any necessary follow up?

Building Permits

  • Will the contractor get the required permits prior to starting the job?
  • Are the permit fees included in the contract you’ve been given?

Check out the contract

  • Were you provided a written contract?
  • Did you read and understand the contract in its entirety?
  • Does the 3-day right to cancel apply to your situation?
  • Does the contract clearly define when the work is to begin and end?
  • Does the contract include all costs to do the job?
  • Does the contract include a detailed description of the work to be completed, listing any equipment and material to be used in completing the job? This description should include a plan of the work to be completed, with scale drawings, shapes, and sizes. The description should also include branded equipment, model numbers, and quantities (and color where applicable). Specific descriptions will ensure that you are not quoted one item and given another.
  • Are you required to pay a down payment? If you are, the down payment should be no more than 10% of the contract price, and never more than $1,000.00.
  • Did your contract give you a “Notice to Owner”, a warning notice describing liens and ways to prevent them? Even if you pay a contractor, a lien can be placed on your home by unpaid laborers, sub-contractors, or material suppliers.
  • Did you receive an Unconditional Release upon final payment, if you received a preliminary lien notice?
  • Specific to HVAC, has the Contractor explained Duct Testing Requirements as they apply through the Third-Party Agreement?
  • Is the Contractor providing any Warranty, and was the Warranty given with written documentation outlining coverage?

Much of this information is available from the California Contractors State License Board website at http://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/guides-and-pamphlets/Home-Improvement-Contract-Guide.pdf