Month: September 2018

Not all contractors are created equal. You wouldn’t hire an electrical contractor to fix your toilet. Each contractor has their own specific skillset. If that’s the case, what does a general contractor do? By definition, a general contractor is a contractor “whose services are unlimited as to the type of work which he or she may do, who may contract for any activity requiring licensure under this part, and who may perform any work requiring licensure under this part, except as otherwise expressly provided in s. 489.113.”

In the state of Florida, a general contractor can become licensed if he/she has 48 months on jobs with at least 12 months as a foreman and show experience in at least 4 areas of commercial construction.

General contractors are licensed and bonded by the state because they can build structures. A general contractor can work on large projects where building permits are needed.  General contractors are good if you’re adding an addition to your home or moving a wall. If you are changing the structure of your home, the city needs to give you permission and the city and a building inspector will only approve structural work done by a licensed general contractor.

A general contractor can do plumbing, electrical, framing, roofing and foundational work. There are different levels of general contractors. Some types require an engineering background and building bridges and large structures. Some types do general construction for commercial and residential spaces; they can lay foundation and carpet and frame the home. Other types of general contractors specialize themselves in certain areas like HVAC, asbestos removal or plumbing.

In Florida, general contractors are licensed through the Department of Business & Professional Regulation’s Contractor Licensing Board.

If you’re looking to do a big project in your home, meet with a few different general contractors to get pricing, see their work, and listen to their experience. You won’t regret hiring a skilled worker to do the job!

Know someone who wants to be a contractor? We can help them get their contractor’s license!  We are a Florida contractor licensing company, who have helped thousands of contractors get their licenses across the country. To get your Florida contractor’s license or other state contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

 

Although we are a contractor licensing company based in Florida, we have helped our clients get their contractor licenses all across the state. One state where we’ve helps dozens of people get their licenses is Georgia. Georgia has a lot of contractor licensing requirements, which can become overwhelming and confusing for people – that’s where we come in.

Our goal is to make the contractor-license process an easy, stress-free process for you. We make the application process painless! With Georgia’s requirements, we know all that is needed to get you approved quickly in that state. We know the proper steps (to take to expedite the license approval process. It takes about 3 weeks to have you a certified Georgia contractor’s license number.

When we complete a contractor license application, we aren’t just filling out forms and gathering paperwork. We analyze your past and present and use your skillset and experience strategically to build you a solid application that will pass.

As a contractor licensing company, we give all our clients unlimited time to ask us questions related to contractor licenses and the application process. We work with our clients through email and fax, so we can work with you from anywhere in the country. We run Department of Business & Professional Regulation (DBPR) credit reports. We analyze and review the application to ensure everything is correct. We overnight ship to the DBPR and we monitor the DBPR’s approval process.

How does working with us work? Call us, and we will get your basic information. We will complete the Georgia contractor license application for you, so you will get approved. We then overnight the application to the state of Georgia. The state has 30 days to approve your application, but we get them back sooner than that. Once we get the application approved, you will receive your license!

Ready to get your Georgia contractor license? Let’s get you started! We are a Florida contractor licensing company who will do the contractor application process for you from any state!

To get your Georgia contractor’s license or other state license, click our Georgia contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

 

Looking to start a business? Well, you need good credit. In Florida, the Department of Business & Professional Regulation’s Construction Industry Licensing Board requires all applicants who want to become a state certified contractor to provide cred reports for themselves and their business entity. The credit reports need to indicate that local, state, and federal records have been searched. A person credit report needs to contain a FICO derived credit score.

 

In order to get a contractor’s license, you need a credit report, so the state can make a decision on your financial responsibility. In order to form a new business, you need a credit report on file.

 

As a Florida contractor licensing company, we are on the Department of Business & Professional Regulations list of approved credit reporting agencies. Our credit reports include:

• FICO Score
• A statement that Public Records have been searched at the Local, State and Federal Levels

 

Our credit reports, which are DBPR approved cost $50 per report.

 

To get your credit report, follow these steps:

1. Please click on the type/number of credit report(s) you need:

• Credit Report Request – 1 Personal
• Credit Report Request – 1 Business
• Credit Report Request – 1 Personal / 1 Business
• Credit Report Request – 1 Personal / 2 Business
• Credit Report Request – 2 Personal / 1 Business
• Credit Report Request – 2 Personal / 2 Business

 

2. Your reports will be completed within 48 hours.
3. We will email your credit reports to the email you provided.  Please print them out and include with your application to the DBPR.

 

If you have any questions about these credit reports or getting your contractor’s license, let us know. We are here to help you. We are a Florida contractor licensing company who will do the contractor application process for you.

 

We know what the Contractor Licensing Board is looking for in terms of requirements, experience, and deadlines. We are here to answer all your questions. To to get your Florida contractor’s licenses or other state license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

 

Owning a home is a 24-7 job. Unlike an apartment or condo, there is much for you to think about. From the plumbing to appliances, anything can go wrong at any time. Besides enjoying your home, the number one job you have in your home is to maintain it. Regular maintenance on your home can help you keep things from breaking. Small tasks throughout the year should be easy enough for you to handle, but bigger tasks, especially those that are seemingly dangerous, should be handled by professional contractors.

As a homeowner, what kind of jobs around the house can you do yourself without the help of a contractor?

• Change batteries in smoke detectors.
• Change out the HVAC filters.
• Clean the garbage disposal.
• Make sure your fire extinguisher is up-to-date.
• Test your smoke and carbon dioxide detectors.
• Check the water softener.
• Test your water heater pressure relief valve.
• Deep clean your house twice a year.
• Clean your gutters.
• Replace a broken part of an appliance.
• Change lightbulbs.

These are just a few maintenance things you can do throughout your home during the year to keep everything in good condition. However, if you need a bigger task done or a remodeling job, it’s time to call a contractor.  Want to rewire your basement? Move where your fridge is in the kitchen? Install a new sink in the bathroom? Knock down a wall? You’re better off hiring a contractor who has an expertise working with wires, plumbing, and structures. You don’t want to electrocute yourself, fall, flood your home or compromise the structure of your home. Leave it to the professionals.

We are a Florida contractor licensing company, who have helped thousands of contractors get their licenses. When you hire a contractor, you’re hiring someone with expertise, experience, and education in their field.

If you want to get your contractor license or know someone who does, we’re here to help you make it happen. To get your Florida contractor’s license or other state license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

 

Love It or List It. Trading Spaces. Flip or Flop. People are obsessed with home-project shows. Every year, more people seem to be taking on more DIY projects for their homes, which is great! However, repairs and remodeling jobs can be a big undertaking time wise and financially. For example, if you’re looking to redo your kitchen, the average remodeling cost is $20,000. Most of the cost in a remodeling job is the labor. Labor can cost anywhere between $30 to $125 per hour.

Since labor costs are so high, many individuals have opted to do things themselves. However, not every project should be a DIY. If you have little to no experience with electrical or plumbing work, you may cause actually damage or problems to your room. Contractors are skilled professionals who are experienced in specific trades. They can do the jobs efficiently and effectively, and they likely will do a better job than you. Wouldn’t you rather your new kitchen looking flawless?

Electrical wiring, installing tile, plumbing, and carpentry may be too far out of your wheelhouse, but you could save costs by installing a carpet, insulating rooms, or painting. If you’re wondering whether you need a contractor or not, you need to figure out your skill set, how much money you have, and how much time you have.

Some jobs should never be DIY at home, including dangerous jobs like retiling the roof, working with gas, or rewiring the electrical wires in your home. If you are risking your life, you should probably leave it to a professional. If you need to do plumbing work, don’t risk flooding your home. Call a plumber who can properly install plumbing, so a leak will not occur. If you need a building permit, the job your home needs is likely too difficult and complicated for you.

Some jobs are simple repairs. Other jobs require skilled experience. No amount of Googling can help you get the same amount of experience as a licensed contractor. If you take on difficult home tasks and you make mistakes, you could end up costing yourself more than if you just hire a contractor in the first place.

Not only is it safer to hire a professional, but you’re guaranteed quality work and a beautiful finished product. You won’t be able to easily sell your home if your tile work is poorly laid out or if light switches don’t work, or there’s unexplainable leaks.

By working with a contractor, you may also get deals on supplies you couldn’t get on your own. You may also have access to materials or products a person could not access unless he or she was a contractor.

When deciding whether to go with a contractor or DIY, you need to think about cost, time, results, safety, and quality of work. List the pros and cons. Many homeowners decide to higher a contractor despite the higher costs because the pros outweigh the cons.

Looking to become a contractor? Then you can really do all your home repairs! Let’s get you started! We are a Florida contractor licensing company who will do the contractor application process for you regardless of what state you’re in.

To get your Florida contractor’s license or other state license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

Did you know that kitchens are the most popular room to renovate in the home? Getting your kitchen remodeled is exciting. It can change the entire look of your home and add great value to the home, as well. It can be fun choosing all the items for your kitchen, however, choosing a contractor can be a more stressful task.

You want to choose a contractor who is:

• Experienced
• Licensed
• Insured
• Has extensive experience working on kitchens
• Communicated effectively
• Understands your vision and wants and needs
• Who had great reviews and recommendations
• Who stays in budget

You can either find a contractor to redo your kitchen through friends and family, visit the Better Business Bureau’s website, or read online customer reviews. Try to find 3 or 4 contractors and get quotes from them. They will look at your kitchen and come up with an estimate. Don’t hire anyone who won’t give you a quote in writing. You will also want to ask the contractor how long the job will take. Don’t hire anyone with an unrealistic timeframe. Check on the contractor’s references to make sure they are quality professionals who deliver quality work. Make sure your contractor knows kitchens. If he/she doesn’t have experience redoing kitchens, don’t hire him.

After you choose a contractor, you will receive a contract that will map out the scope of the project, the cost, the materials, the timeframe, and other stipulations. Before signing the contract, make sure the contractor is licensed and insured and get a copy of this information.

Looking to get your own contractor’s license or know someone who wants to be a contractor? As a Florida contractor licensing company, we can help them get their license. We’ve been helping thousands of contractors get licensed for years. We know the ins and outs of the license application process, so your application will not be denied. You will be licensed in under a month!

To get your Florida contractor’s license or other state contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

A kitchen is the most common room to be remodeled in the home. It’s also the most expensive. Kitchen are where the heart of the home is, so you want your kitchen looking great. After watching DIY shows on TV, you may get the urge to redo your kitchen on your own to save a buck, but a kitchen remodeling job can be quite the undertaking. If you have little to no experience with remodeling a home, a kitchen may not be the place to start.

In a kitchen, there’s a lot of electrical wiring and plumbing that are dangerous work. If you don’t have expertise in those fields, you could get seriously injured or destroy your home. Also, the kitchen has a lot of tile work. If you lay out tile in a messy fashion, it will look unprofessional and sloppy.

Write down the pros and cons of hiring a contractor to redo the kitchen. You’ll likely decide that the pros outweigh the cons when it comes to hiring a licensed, professional contractor.

When working with a contractor, you’ll want to ask him the following questions:

• Ask to see his/her contractor’s license. Unlicensed contractor work is illegal is most states. You want a legal contractor working on your home.
• Ask to see proof of insurance coverage, including liability insurance and worker’s compensation.
• Ask how long he/she has been a contractor?
• Ask him/her to show examples of his/her past work.
• Ask who they are affiliated with in the industry.
• Ask if he/she a kitchen specialist and not just a general contractor.
• Ask how long he/she has been in business.
• Ask how many kitchens he/she has remodeled.
• Ask for references.
• Ask if he/she provides warranty.
• Find out if he/she has ever declared bankruptcy.
• Ask about the team, and how many people will work on the project. o
• Ask if he/she has won any awards.
• Ask about communication throughout the project.
• Ask about the working hours and timeline.

Hiring a quality, licensed contractor is important. If you want to get your contractor license yourself or know someone who does, we’re here to help.

We are a Florida contractor licensing company who help contractors all over the country get their licenses. To get your Florida contractor’s license or other state license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

Are you looking for a contractor for a job in your home? You’ll want to hire a licensed contractor. Unlicensed contracting activity is illegal in Florida. You also want to find a contractor who has liability insurance and worker’s compensation in case of any accidents.

So, how do you find a licensed contractor? And, how do you know if they’re actually licensed? The Better Business Bureau (BBB) and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) have partnered together to help Floridians be aware of who is a licensed contractor and who isn’t.

First, look up some contractors. Ask friends and family. Read reviews. Do your research – all before hiring a contractor. Check to see if the contractor has a BBB Accredited Business Seal – this means they are licensed and have been vetted by the BBB. You can verify a contractor’s license on www.myfloridalicense.com, by calling 850-487-1395 or by downloading the DBPR mobile app.

The BBB can also tell you how to find a licensed contractor. Visit https://www.bbb.org/florida-licensing-resource-page/ to get information and resources from the BBB.

 

If you hire an unlicensed contractor, you may run into a lot of problems. Sure, maybe they were cheaper, but they also can-do things wrong or unsafely. You want your house built/fixed correctly. A bad job can lead to more stress and financial burden on your end. If your unlicensed contractor doesn’t carry insurance, you may be found liable if an accident occurs on your property. If you see an unlicensed contractor working, report it to the DBPR.

If you’re looking to get your own contractor’s license or know someone who wants to be a contractor, we can help them get their license. We’ve been helping contractors get licensed for years. We know the ins and outs of the license application process, so your application will not be denied.

To get your Florida contractor’s license or other state contractor license, click our Florida contractor’s license page or call us at 239-777-1028.

 

Getting your contractor license can be easy when you work with a contractor licensing company. We do all the work for you! We make sure you have the right requirements and passed the right exams and meet all the deadlines. When applying for a contractor’s license, there’s a lot to know and remember. If you work with us, we’ve got you covered.

Even if you work with us, there’s a lot of questions you will have, and you should! We will answer all your questions every step of the way. However, we are asked certain questions frequently, so we thought we’d share some with you. These questions/answers will help you with information for the pre and post-license process.

Pre-License Questions:

HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO GET MY WORKER’S COMP INSURANCE/EXEMPTION and GENERAL LIABILITY INSURANCE INTO PLACE?

Since Worker’s Compensation Exemptions are filed after the contractor license is issued, the state gives you up to 30 days after the issuance to have Worker’s Comp in place. General Liability should be in place for the contractor license to be issued.

IF MY CREDIT IS BAD, CAN I DESIGNATE A SEPARATE FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE OFFICER?

The Electrical Contractors’ Licensing Board does not allow the license holder to alleviate financial responsibility unless they are a secondary qualifier. The Construction Industry Licensing Board will allow for a license holder to alleviate their financial responsibility by designating a third party, but this does not alleviate the financial stability requirement of a public record search and bond if they do not meet a minimum score.

HOW MUCH MONEY DO I HAVE TO HAVE IN THE BANK TO APPLY FOR A LICENSE?

Construction licenses do not require a minimum net worth. The requirement is based on your credit.  Applicants with a FICO or BEACON score lower than 660 will require a financial stability bond.  A contractor license applicant must be free of unresolved liens/bankruptcies/judgments to be eligible for licensure. Electrical licenses do require minimums, including: The applicant must have a positive net worth; EC, EG, and EF licenses require a $10,000 net worth of the business entity if there is one; and all specialty electric licenses require $5,000 net worth of the business.

Post-License Questions:

CAN THE JOINT VENTURE BID A PROJECT PRIOR TO YOU BECOMING APPROVED AS A QUALIFYING AGENT?

Yes, but the joint venture must obtain approval of the Construction Industry Licensing Board’s Executive Director prior to submitting the bid on a construction project. The joint venture must provide the Executive Director a copy of the written joint venture agreement and a statement of authority signed by an officer of each company giving the proposed qualifying agent full authority to conduct the contracting business of the joint venture.

 

We hope these few questions help you, but we know you may have many more questions. We are happy to answer any and all questions asked! It’s our job to help you through the process and help you understand the steps to take to get you a license. If you need help with getting a Florida contractor’s license, contact us today. Call us at 239-777-1028 or click our Florida Contractor License page for more information.