How to check if a contractor is licensed in California
In last week’s blog, we explained the importance of Los Angeles homeowner and commercial property owners hiring only bonded, licensed, and insured contractors to work on residential and commercial property construction jobs. In this second blog in our three-part “Consumer Affairs Bulletin” series, we discuss how consumers can actually find out whether or not their contractor is licensed!
LA County undercover stings always find unlicensed contractors
One of our clients recently asked us, can a contractor work without a license in California? The answer is, the contractor is not supposed to be working without a license, but many of them do, and it’s illegal for them to do so! On a regular basis, we receive news bulletins from the State of California’s Department of Consumer Affairs about another “undercover sting” where investigators from the Contractor’s State License Board (“CSLB”) catch “in the act” a large number of unlicensed contractors bidding on home improvement jobs. Undertaking construction services without a license is an illegal act in the State of California, and one that carries a first-conviction penalty of up to six months in jail and/or up to $5,000 in fines!
There are many unlicensed contractors preying on unsuspecting homeowners and commercial property owners. These shady unlicensed characters advertise just like the licensed contractors: they send out letters and mailers, advertise in magazines, and even use billboards, and many consumers fall prey to their illegal business tactics! Many times, unlicensed contractors simply disappear after they receive a payment without ever completing a job. And if they do a job, their work is often shoddy and does not pass a city inspection, does not last, and does not carry any warranties at all.
How to protect yourself as an informed consumer
At this point, you are probably wondering how you can protect yourself as an informed consumer? The answer is pretty simple! Before you hire a contractor, perform an easy Instant License Check on the CSLB website. This feature allows you to search for a contractor by license number, name, or business name, to find whether or not the contractor’s license is active and in good standing. The page will also list bond and worker’s compensation insurance information, which is required if the contractor has any employees.
When you do this check, you should also see how long the contractor has held his or her license. We recommend that you only hire contractors who have held their license (and thus have done such work) for longer than 5 years! It goes without saying that the less experienced the contractor, the cheaper he may do the work, but in construction, experience does matter, and it pays to hire an experienced firm to do the work, as they will do it quicker and better! Do all this before you hire a contractor, and then use this information to determine if you are happy to proceed with the contractor in question!
Be sure to read Part Three of our Consumer Affairs Bulletin, which provides additional “tips” on hiring the right construction professional!
At Weinstein Construction Corporation, we are of course licensed! Our family-owned Los Angeles construction business has been in continuous operation under the same name and license since 1977! During this time, we have provided more than 80,000 free inspections to residential and commercial property owners in the greater Los Angeles region! Call Weinstein Construction today at (888) 412-8363 for a free inspection and review of all your construction needs!
