In Florida, it is illegal to work as a contractor without a contractor license. Do you really want someone working on your home or business illegally? This unlicensed contractor’s fees are a lot less than other contractors, but is it worth the risk? Not likely.
As a contractor licensing company, our team at Licenses, Etc. has helped thousands of contractors get their licenses across many states. For this article, we wanted to share with you reasons why an unlicensed contractor shouldn’t be hired, even if he/she isthe most affordable option.
- An unlicensed contractor can take your money and disappear.
- Licensed contractors must go through a lot of work to be licensed, so it shows they have a higher work ethic and values.
- An unlicensed contractor likely doesn’t carry any type of insurance, which means he/she can go after you if they get hurt on your property.
- If you work with an unlicensed contractor, there’s a good chance some of the warranties on the products he/she installed will be void.
- Your contract with an unlicensed contractor may not have any legal backing, so if something goes wrong, you can’t go after them legally in the way you would normally.
- If the unlicensed contractor makes a mistake and damages other things in your home by accident, he/she isn’t obligate to fix or replace any damaged areas. He cannot pay you for the loss, and it will be nearly impossible for you to sue him for damages.
- Your unlicensed contractor likely will not know the proper codes or permits, which means you must investigate this information. If not, you will get fined.
- If the work the contractor does on the home causes future damage or defects, you will be liable not the unlicensed contractor. In this scenario, your homeowner’s insurance likely will not help you either because you chose to work with an unlicensed contractor.
Every year, homeowners and clients hire unlicensed contractors who make promises and appear to be trustworthy and legit; however, in many of these scenarios, the contractor lies and disappears with the homeowners’ down payment. Don’t let this be you. Don’t let a small home job turn into thousands of dollars lawsuit against you.
It’s worth hiring and paying more money for a licensed contractor. You know with a licensed contractor that he/she is insured, experienced, and legally responsible to get the job done for you.
On the other side, don’t be an unlicensed contractor in which you will likely receive a bad reputation and can be fined or jailed for working illegally.
If you’re looking to get your own contractor’s license, we can help you. Please do not work illegally. We can get you licensed easily. We are a Florida contractor licensing company and can help you get your license no matter what state you live in. We will talk to you over the phone and by email to get your application approved by the Board. We make the process easy and less stressful for you. To get your contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page to learn more or call 239-777-1028.