The advantage to hiring someone with a license

contractors

Recently many out of work handymen have shown up at my door asking if they can do any work. One quoted me on some work, at a much lower price than if I looked in the phone book for a licensed contractor, and I was able to get some references from people I know to confirm they are okay. What is the advantage then of hiring someone with a license? Does that help protect me in case something goes wrong during the work?

Best Answer

It varies from place to place, but in general, there's a few things you can expect from licensed tradespeople.

  • they've shown a commitment to their business, so have a higher probability of being competent.
  • they probably have liability insurance (for if they burn your house down) and worker's comp (for if they injure themselves). As a homeowner, you're encouraged to check for proof of both of these things, btw. If an uninsured trade has an accident, it might roll downhill to you or your insurance.
  • there's a greater likelihood that they'll be around in the future if a warranty concern comes up.
  • depending on jurisdiction, a licensed trade will be able to give you an enforceable contract.
  • a licensed trade will be able to pull building permits to ensure that work is done to code.
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