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Every year homeowners pay for work that a ten-minute lookup would have flagged. The order matters: licence first, then insurance, then scope, then permit. Skip the first two and the rest does not protect you.
| Check | What you ask for | Where you verify it | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence | The licence number and the name on it | Your state licensing board lookup, or our licence checker to find the right board | 4 minutes |
| Insurance | A certificate of insurance with general liability and workers compensation | The insurer or agent named on the certificate, not only the contractor | 5 minutes |
| Scope | A written quote that lists labour, materials, removal, permits and exclusions | Compare it with typical prices on the price index | 10 minutes |
| Permit | Who pulls the permit and which inspections apply | Your city or county building department | 5 minutes |
Licensing is a state rule, and the dollar thresholds are where most homeowners get caught. The six states below are the ones where we have a precise, current rule rather than a general summary. If your state is not listed, the licence checker names the board for the trade.
| State | Rule in plain terms | Board to check |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Licence needed at $1,000 or more in labour and materials, or at any amount if a permit is required | Arizona Registrar of Contractors |
| Florida | Minor jobs under $2,500 are exempt, except electrical and alarm work | DBPR, Construction Industry Licensing Board |
| North Carolina | General contractor licence for jobs of $40,000 or more (since October 2023) | NC Licensing Board for General Contractors |
| Oklahoma | Roofers must register with the CIB before work, with $500,000 general liability for residential jobs | Oklahoma Construction Industries Board |
| Tennessee | Contractor licence at $25,000 and up; nine counties also require a home improvement licence for $3,000 to $25,000 | Tennessee Board for Licensing Contractors |
| Texas | No statewide general contractor licence; electrical and HVAC licensed by TDLR, plumbing by TSBPE | TDLR and the State Board of Plumbing Examiners |
A state can have no general contractor licence and still license several trades tightly. Texas is the clearest example: a handyman may not need a state licence for small repairs, but the electrician who touches your panel does, and so does the plumber who changes a water heater. Always check the specific trade, not the word "contractor" on the truck.
Save a screenshot of the result with the date visible. If the job goes wrong, the screenshot is the record of what you verified before signing.
A certificate of insurance is a snapshot, not a guarantee. Certificates can be cancelled the next day, or be for a policy that excludes residential work. The check that matters is confirming coverage with the insurer or agent named on the certificate.
| Coverage | What it pays for | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| General liability | Damage to your property or a third party caused by the work | Limit per occurrence, and whether residential work is included |
| Workers compensation | Injury to the crew while on your property | Whether the crew is covered or the contractor uses subcontractors without cover |
| Commercial auto | Damage caused by a work vehicle | Whether the truck that parks on your driveway is covered for business use |
| Bond, where required | Claims against a licensed contractor in some states | Whether your state requires a bond and the amount |
If the contractor says "we are insured" but cannot produce a certificate with your job address or the correct business name, treat the answer as no.
A single number is not a quote. A useful quote separates the work into items you can compare with another contractor's items, and it names what is excluded.
| Line | Should say | If missing |
|---|---|---|
| Labour | Crew size, days or hours, and what they do | Lump sum with no breakdown |
| Materials | Brand, grade, quantity and unit price | "Materials included" with no specification |
| Removal and disposal | What comes out and the dump fee | Disposal billed "on site" |
| Permits and inspections | Who pulls it and the fee | Homeowner told to pull the permit |
| Schedule and payment | Start date and payment milestones | Large deposit before materials are ordered |
| Exclusions | What is not included, written down | No exclusions section |
This is general information, not legal advice. Contract rules differ by state; a local attorney or your state's consumer protection office can review a contract.
A permit is the local government's record that the work was inspected. Unpermitted work can fail a home inspection when you sell, and insurance can decline a claim if the damage traces to work that required a permit and did not have one.
| Work | Permit usually needed | Who should pull it |
|---|---|---|
| Roof replacement | Often, depending on the city and the number of layers | The roofing contractor |
| Electrical panel change or new circuits | Yes in most jurisdictions | The licensed electrician |
| Water heater replacement | Often, especially for gas or a change in size | The plumber |
| Deck or fence above a height limit | Often, with height and setback rules | The contractor, or the homeowner for a DIY fence |
| Structural changes, load-bearing walls | Yes, usually with engineered plans | The general contractor |
| Like-for-like cosmetic work | Rarely | Usually no permit |
| Trade | First question | Guide and tool |
|---|---|---|
| Concrete | Is the base and thickness in the quote, and who removes the old slab? | Concrete guides · Slab cost calculator |
| Roofing | How many layers are coming off, and is decking repair included? | Roofing guides · Roof calculator |
| Fencing | Who sets the property line, and what is the post depth and spacing? | Fencing guides · Fence calculator |
| Foundation repair | What is the diagnosis, and is an engineer's report included? | Foundation guides · Foundation estimator |
| HVAC | Is the quote for equipment only, or install, permit and disposal too? | HVAC guides · HVAC calculator |
| Plumbing | Is the fix a repair or a replacement, and what is the warranty on each? | Plumbing guides · Repipe cost estimator |
Compare it with typical prices and county permit rules before you sign.
The job brief builder turns your notes into a one-page brief you can send to three contractors so they price the same scope. The quote checker compares a written quote with typical prices, and the directory lists local businesses by state and city. If you would rather have one matched company contact you, the quote request form does that without sharing your details with a list of buyers.
You lose the board's complaint and discipline process, which is often the fastest route to a remedy. Your insurer may also decline a claim if the work required a licence or permit. Fixing defective work usually costs more than the original job.
Not always, but it is the one most likely to be missing scope. Compare line items and exclusions, not totals. A quote that is 30% below the others usually leaves out removal, permits, or a material upgrade that the others included.
Yes, most board lookups accept a business name, but a licence number is more reliable. Some businesses trade under a name that differs from the licence holder, so match the legal name on the licence to the name on the contract.
It depends on height, location and your local code. Many jurisdictions require a permit above six feet for a fence, and for most decks attached to a house. Call the building department and describe the job; the answer takes a few minutes.
Either can, but the permit should be in the name of the party responsible for the work, usually the contractor. If the contractor asks you to pull it, ask why. It usually means the contractor is not licensed to pull it.
There is no national rule, but a deposit above a third of the total before materials are ordered is a warning sign in most trades. A small deposit to schedule, then payments at milestones, protects both sides.
Estimates, not quotes. General information, not legal advice.