Tag: florida contracting

The benefits of joining a trade organization

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You’ve invested a lot in your career. So why not keep that investment growing?

 

Joining a trade organization has many benefits, and could help you expand your circle of professional contacts, gain recognition for your work, and generate new business opportunities. While many charge annual dues, it’s money well spent.

 

Trade groups provide access to news in the building and construction industries – whether it’s through monthly magazines or newsletters, emails, or online blogs and forums. Staying informed could give you a leg up on the competition, especially when it comes to up-and-coming trends.

 

Trade organizations often provide opportunities for education, training and professional development, and organize regular networking events such as conferences and seminars. Some provide access to legal experts, while others offer discounts and special rates to members.

 

Here are five trade organizations related to the building and contracting trades (some may have regional or local chapters in Florida and Georgia):

 

—Associated Builders and Contractors: With a membership of more than 21,000 professionals across 70 chapters, Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) advocates for open competition and a free-enterprise approach that awards contracts based on merit (and not union affiliation).

 

—Associated General Contractors of America: Associated General Contractors of America (known as AGC) represents more than 26,000 firms, including more than 9,000 specialty-contracting firms. Its powerful advocacy wing supports federal infrastructure spending, and its guiding principles include philanthropy and workplace diversity.

 

—National Association of Home Builders: The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) is comprised of more than 800 state and local associations; about one-third of its members are homebuilders or remodelers. Members can participate in councils that focus on specific disciplines within the home building industry, and have access to a wealth of information and experts.

 

—National Association of Women in Construction: The National Association of Women in Construction (NAWC) is a network group with a mission to enhance the success of women in the industry. It provides members with opportunities for professional development and leadership training, among other benefits.

 

—American Subcontractors Association: The American Subcontractors Association (ACA) seeks to improve the business environment in the construction industry through reforms, and represents the interests of subcontractors, specialty contractors, and materials suppliers. It maintains professional standards of practice for members to follow when bidding and executing contracts.

 

Before joining a trade organization, make sure you have all the licenses you need for your business. A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit Florida contractor license . website or call 239-777-1028.

 

Housing sales ‘heat wave’ continues into July

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 Florida’s housing market continued to heat up in July, as it picked up steam for the second summer month.

 

Florida Realtors reported that July was a strong month for statewide housing sales, with higher median sales prices, more pending sales, and additional new listings. Single-family home sales totaled 24,546 — up 2 percent from July 2016 levels — while condo-townhouse sales totaled 9,246 – up 3.6 percent.

 

Sales and prices were also up in June of this year.

 

“Florida’s housing market gained momentum in July,” said Florida Realtors President Maria Wells in a news release. “More owners decided to put their homes up for sale. However, even with the increase in new listings, inventory remains tight and buyer demand is great. New listings for single-family existing homes rose 6.1 percent year-[to]-year, while new listings for existing condo-townhouse properties rose 5.5 percent.”

 

“Homes continue to sell quickly, resulting in increased pending sales – up 3.3 percent for single-family homes and up 3.6 percent for condo-townhouse units,” she added.

 

Statewide, the median sales price for single-family homes was $240,000 – up 7.1 percent year-to-year, while the median price for condo-townhouses was $170,950 — up 6.8 percent. July reportedly marked the 68th month in a row that statewide median prices for both sectors rose year-over-year.

 

Nationwide, the number of housing starts and completions was mixed in July compared to the same month last year, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 

The number of privately owned housing starts totaled 1.15 million – down 5.6 percent – while housing completions stood at 1.17 million – up 8.2 percent. Housing starts and completions have risen consistently since July 2012.

 

New housing starts are considered to be an indicator of economic strength, and present opportunities for contractors and workers in the construction trades. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported a slight uptick in new construction industry jobs in July, with most of the increases seen in the residential construction sector.

 

Housing and real estate data for August 2017 was released in mid-September.

 

A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida contractor’s license website or call 239-777-1028.

 

What Does A General Contractor Do?

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Do you know what a general contractor does exactly? What the position entails? There’s so many different types of contractors today that it can be hard to remember who does what. If you’re looking to hire a general contractor for work, you want to make sure he or she has the right skills you need for the job.

In the state of Florida, a general contractor is recognized as a “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 order to become a licensed general contractor, a person must show 48 months on jobs with at least 12 months as a foreman or a combination of college and experience totaling at least 48 months with at least 12 of those months as a foreman. This person must also show at least 1 year or more of experience with habitable structures bigger than 4 stories. He or she must also have responsibility in at least four of the following areas in construction: Foundation/slabs greater than 20,000 sq. ft, Masonry walls, Steel erection, Elevated slabs, Precast concrete structures, Column erection, and Formwork for structural reinforced concrete.

If you’re a homeowner and need work done in or outside your home, most likely, you’ll need to call up a general contractor. Looking to build a home theater? Game room? Home office? Hobby room? Outdoor deck? Raised ceilings? Want a second floor? Outdoor kitchen? A total remodeling? A general contractor and his team of subcontractor can plan and execute this project.

A general contractor can help a person or family renovate and improve the look of their home without them having to buy a new home to fulfill their new needs or desires.

If you or someone you know is looking to become a licensed general contractor, we can help. We are a Florida contractor licensing company who has helped thousands of contractors get their license. To learn more about this process, click our Florida general contractor page. We make the process fast and simple. To start working with us today, click our Florida contractor page or call 239-777-1028.

New home starts, sales data signals good news for Florida contractors

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New housing starts and home sales are considered to be indicators of economic strength. So the latest data should signal good news for Florida contractors and workers in the construction trades.

 

The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recently released statistics that show an uptick in new residential construction activity during the month of June 2017.

 

Nationwide, the number of privately owned, new home construction starts was 1.21 million — up 2.1 percent over the June 2016 level. The number of privately owned housing completions for the month was 1.20 million – up 8.1 percent year-to-year.

 

The news followed a June report by Reuters that noted U.S. homebuilding had fallen for the third-straight month in May. However, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that the construction industry gained 16,000 new jobs in June and 6,000 new jobs in July, with the residential sector fueling growth.

 

Locally, FloridaRealtors reported positive movement in the sale of single-family homes, townhouses/condos and manufactured homes in June, noting that new homes listed in the Sunshine State are selling quickly.

 

Compared to the same month last year, the number of single-family home sales rose 4.3 percent, while townhouses/condo sales increased by 4.9 percent and manufactured homes sales jumped 9.1 percent.

 

Sales prices in June were also higher: The average price of a single-family home was $328,921 (up 7.3 percent); for townhouses/condos, the average price was $255,717 (up 5.9 percent), while the average price for a manufactured home was $87,288 (up 14.8 percent).

 

The data, so far, are in line with what analysts predicted the housing market would look like in 2017. Sales prices are expected to continue to rise with increased demand from homebuyers, with younger individuals born after 1980 increasingly looking to own a home rather than rent. Some experts suggest that there may also be a growing premium on high-end homes because they’re more profitable to build.

 

Housing and real estate data for July 2017 will be released later this month.

 

A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida contractor’s license site or call 239-777-1028.

 

 

Contractor Products to Put on Your Wish List

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As a contractor, you have to stay on top of things in your field. Whether there’s a new regulation or way to do something, you should know it and implement it. The world is moving at a fast pace these days; people want the newest and best of everything. So whether you’re working on a home, an office building, or even a bridge, you want to be equipped with the latest and best information, products, and methods. One way to stay on top of things in the contracting world is to be aware (and invest in) the best products in the field. Quality tools and equipment will make your job easier in more ways than one.

As a Florida contractor licensing company, we wanted to share with you a few of the latest products out in the field for you to purchase on your own or for your place of employment.

Winbag – If you’re a residential or commercial contractor, you probably do your share of installing a lot of windows. This is no easy task. Measurements needs to be price. Windows are heavy. Well, winbag can help. It is an inflatable shim that fills gaps from 3/32 inches to 2 inches. It can make windows level, and it even works on doors and cabinets. It is a fiber-reinforced material made with rubber. With this device, you no longer have to use wooden shims or plastic wedges. It can lift up to 300 pounds.  You can purchase this device on Amazon.

SnapPower Charger – This USB charger provides a 1-AMP USB port to any wall outlet. It installs easily over any wall outlet.

Paint Shield – Paint Shield is a microbicidal pain from Sherwin-Williams that kills 99.9% of deadly organisms. It can kill staph, MRSA, and E.coli within two hours of exposure on a painted surface. This paint is great for schools, hospitals, public facilities, and even a home. It’s available in more than 550 colors.

These three products are just a few of the great new, innovative ideas that are being produced to help contractors’ jobs easier and more efficient. You can work better, or offer better quality products to your clients.

Come back to our blog often to read about even more cool and new products.

If you’re looking to get your Florida contractor’s license, we can help! We have helped thousands of contractors get their license. We do all the heavy lifting for you; we know what is needed to get your application completed and accepted. To start with us today, click here or call 239-777-1028.

 

Help for Running a Contractor Business

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Running a business is hard. It doesn’t matter how many years you’ve put in into the industry, running a business is a lot of work. There’s a lot to do, remember, take care of, etc. etc.  It can be hard to run the day-to-day parts of the business when you need to get a lot of other work done, including working on projects and managing other contractors – that’s where we come in. We are a Florida contractor licensing company who helps people get their Florida contractor’s licenses, as well as help them start a business and continue to run their business.

For this article, we wanted to share with you how we can help you run a business.

We can help you:

  • Keep track of deadlines for your license and business
  • Keep you from paying reinstatement and late fees
  • Give you a comprehensive list of requirements (that your state and county) requires for your business and licenses, even if you have several.
  • Remind you when to file your annual report.
  • Remind you when your continuing education (CEUs) need to be completed.
  • Help you with corporate amendments, foreign qualification, corporate name change, s-corp election, DBA, and registered agent services.

 

Once we have made of list and done all these things, we can offer you a maintenance service to take care of things for you out the year. Some things we can help you with while other things you need to do on your own, but we will make you aware of that. We will take care of everything on time so you won’t be paying late fees. When you work with us, you’ll never have to worry about missing anything.

 

Our services offer you convenience. We will take a lot of work and stress of your plate. If this sounds good to you, let us help you run your business like a well-oiled machine. Contact our contractor licensing team by clicking here or calling 239-777-1028 for a personalized quote! We have helped thousands of contractors get their licenses and businesses. We make the process easy and stress free.

 

Have the 2017 Construction Trends Come True Yet?

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Early in 2017, there were many trends and outlooks predicted for the construction industry. With only a few months left in the year, how do you think the outlook measures up to what is occurring? As a Florida contractor licensing company, we wanted to share with you some of these outlooks and trends that were noted to occur in 2017. Take note if you’ve seen any of these in action or developing, or not. Some of these trends may even crossover into 2018.  According to constructiondive.com, they identified the following as trends and outlooks for 2017:

Economists predicted there to be a 5 percent growth in construction.

  • Collaborative team projects will become more commonplace.
  • There will still be a labor shortage. The number of workers in the industry dropped significantly since 2006 and it has yet to turn around.
  • It is unknown what will happen with regulations, taxes, labor policy, and more under the new Trump administration.
  • Offsite/modular/prefab construction will continue to grow.
  • Increase in infrastructure spending.
  • The cost of doing business in the construction world will rise because of material and labor costs.
  • More companies will use virtua reality technology to help detect errors early on in the project.
  • Sustainable and green building methods will continue to grow.

How do these trends and predictions stack up? Have you experienced any of this at your job?

Do you want to enter the construction industry? The field is continuing to grow each year. If you want to get your Florida contractor’s license, we can help you! We know exactly what is needed to complete and apply successfully. We will get you licensed fast, and you won’t have to stress about a thing. We will work with you every step of the way. We also help clients get contractor’s licenses from different states. To get started on your Florida contractor’s license today, click here or call us as 239-777-1028.

General Contractors vs. Subcontractors

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General contractors have a Division 1 License, which can consist of a General, Building or Residential contractor’s license.  These types of contractors are generally a single person or a company, they do business by obtaining contracts and carrying them out. They are responsible for hiring sub-contractors within specific fields to get the jobs completed. They are also responsible for providing all material, labor, permits and equipment to complete the contract. Contractors are in charge of recruiting an inspector because every project has to pass inspection in order to be complete.

 

Sub-contractors work for General Contractors and are required to obtain a Division 2 License in their desired field, such as plumbing, HVAC, Electrical and other contractor specialties.  They are hired by general contractors to assist them in completing the contract given. Subcontractors are hired on a skill set basis and are hired to perform specific tasks as a part of the overall project. The same Subcontractors usually work together from project to project to keep work following and projects organized.

 

General Contractors and subcontractors work very hard together to complete a construction project. The contractor acts as the manager of the project, serving as the central point of communication and organization. The subcontractors are to complete the project within time given. Most projects are on a very tight and demanding schedule and deadline. The Contractors work together with the subcontractors to make sure the deadlines are met and work is completed and up to code. When closer to the deadline, the General Contractor will have an inspector come in and conduct a very thorough inspection. The Contractor will be given a checklist of things that are still needed to be completed, now all the contractors will work together to complete the checklist before the final inspection.

 

Are you looking to become a Florida contractor? Let us help you with the process! We are a Florida contractor licensing company who helps people get their Florida contractor’s license. Whether you like electrical work or plumbing, we can help you through the process; we do all the heavy work for you! To get started, click here or call 239-777-1028.

Unlicensed contractors target of undercover investigation

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Think unlicensed contracting work is no big deal?

 

Think again.

 

The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the arrest of nine men in July on charges related to performing unlicensed contracting work, following an undercover investigation dubbed “Operation Freelancer IV.”

 

With the help of Florida’s Department of Financial Services Division of Insurance Fraud and the Department of Business and Professional Regulation, detectives contacted individuals who were advertising home repair services – work that requires one or more state-issued license.

 

Once the contractor showed up to a home to perform the work, authorities checked with the DBPR to determine if they held a license, were registered as a contractor in Florida and were required to hold workers’ compensation coverage.

 

The three-day sting reportedly resulted in 11 felony charges and seven misdemeanor charges. Those arrested ranged in age from 42 to 69, and resided in Bradenton, Englewood, North Port, Myrtle Beach, Port Charlotte and Sarasota.

 

Typically, a first offense results in a civil citation, but subsequent violations can lead to misdemeanor or felony criminal charges. Those charged can also expect to receive a cease and desist order from the State of Florida.

 

“Maintenance operations like these should be a good reminder for consumers to always seek licensed contractors to perform work on their homes or businesses,” Sheriff Tom Knight said in a WFLA News Channel 8 report. “Consumers are exposing themselves to financial and physical risk by allowing these people to enter their home, unlicensed, and in some cases, with criminal histories. Let this be a warning to criminals who come into our community and illegally solicit services that their behavior will not be tolerated.”

 

In a separate sting operation in June called “Operation Builder Bust,” authorities in Lakeland arrested eight men on similar charges. Those charged reportedly advertised their abilities to perform wide-ranging plumbing and electrical work on the Internet without licenses or training, and all but one had no workers’ compensation coverage to protect their employees, according to news reports.

 

A Florida contractor licensing company can help individuals and companies navigate the state’s licensing requirements, with approvals as quick as 10 days. We are a Florida contracting licensing company. We can help get you licensed. For more information on Florida contractor requirements or to get an application started, visit our Florida contractor license website or call 239-777-1028.

 

Requirements for a Florida Contracting License

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In order to legally perform contractor services in the state of Florida, you will need to obtain a Florida contracting license. If you fail to undergo the testing and licensing, you will be subject to fines and other penalties for failure to comply. What follows is a brief rundown of the guidelines and requirements entailed in applying for a contracting license.

 

First, you will have to take two brief exams that cover topics related to finance and the trade(s) you are looking to become licensed in. If you are an electrical contractor, you will need to undergo a slightly different process. You will not be required to take these tests, but rather, will have to undergo trade specific tests due to the complex and potentially dangerous nature of the work.
In order to qualify for the appropriate tests, you will need to be able to show proof of having at least four years of work experience in the construction or trade field. If you are looking to get a contracting license for a business, you will also need to provide proof of financial assets. Requirements for total assets may range from $2,500-20,000, depending on the type of certification you are looking to obtain. You will also be required to carry and show proof of a current liability insurance plan.

 

For licensed contractors in the state of Florida, your license must be renewed every two years. Additionally, you will need to undergo at least 14 hours of continued education (details on what qualifies can be found on the state’s website) during that time period as well. This is to help ensure that all contractors regularly get training in the newest regulations and techniques.

 

There are different registration periods during which you can apply for a contract as an individual or as a business. For individuals, you can apply from May 1 in even years or September 1 in odd years. For businesses, you can apply from May 1 in even years and September 1 in odd years as well. The fees for registration run about $300 for both individuals and businesses.

 

For those who are looking to become individual licensed contractors or who wish to start a contracting business in the state of Florida, it is important to be properly licensed to avoid fees and other penalties. In order to obtain a license, you will need to take a number of basic tests, provide a proof of income, work experience, and apply during the appropriate time period. Your license will be valid for two years and you must received at least 14 hours of continued education related to your field in order to qualify to be relicensed.

 

Are you looking to get your Florida contractor’s license? Let us help you! We are a Florida contractor licensing company. To get started on the application process, click here or call 239-777-1028.