Individual homeowners are entirely responsible for hiring contractors on their property, understanding their liability, and validating any product / service warranties. Still, the DSCA volunteers care about our residents, and this is a simple reminder urging homeowners to perform due diligence and independently verify information provided by a contractor or service provider, particularly those that may be previously unknown to you or may be furnishing their own references.
We have listed several government resources below that may assist homeowners in vetting potential contractors, reducing risk, and even reducing the amount of unsolicited solicitation we receive in the neighborhood.
County advice on selecting a contractor
Sunbiz.org re: the existence and status of a registered company
Hillsborough County re: Contractor Licensing Reports, Construction Fraud, and Fraud Reporting. Licensed contractors are regulated by laws designed to protect the public. Hiring a contractor who does not have the appropriate license can limit government agencies’ abilities to assist you. Your only remedy may be in civil court. Issues with the contractor’s license and insurance can also create significant liability for the homeowner. Use the first link in the above list to see a list of contractor disciplines regulated by the County.
State of Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation re: options to verify a license for a regulated profession, file a complaint, or report unlicensed activity There is also a DBPR Mobile Phone App that can be used to easily verify that the contractor you are considering is licensed. The search is easy using the contractor’s name or license number. Of course, make sure the name you look up, the name listed on your contract and insurance certificates, and the name of the company doing the work match. Also make sure your General Contractor uses licensed trades when needed.
Florida Department of Financial Services provides a Worker’s Compensation compliance proof of coverage search page. Validating worker’s compensation coverage is a bit more complicated than verifying a license. You’ll want to see, for instance, if coverage exists, if anyone is exempt and what they are exempt for, and whether coverage matches the type of work the firm or individual will be doing. Although we are not qualified to advise in this arena, there are plenty of online resources that can be referenced as needed.
Better Business Bureau rating and accreditation
Hillsborough County Clerk of the Circuit Court’s public records search using the ‘Search by Party or Business Name’
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