License Contractors Versus Unlicensed Contractors

The war is on between the license contractors and the unlicensed contractors at least in some areas where a license is required to do business, from cleaning gutters too remodeling.
With the economy so bad at this time or I don't want to use the word bad I will leave that word for the politicians. With many people in our current economy not building as fast or remodeling as much for the moment. (see we need to stay positive.) Many license contractors are fighting back, if they went and gave a “bid on a job” and didn't “get the job” some are watching the jobs they bid on closely. If they see another contractor on the job doing the work and verify there is not a permit on the job or the contractor doesn't have a license they are calling the local building and standards office or state license board/office.

Having the job “shut down” and/or have the contractor/property owner questioned.
Everything from cleaning gutters, landscaping, roofing, painting exteriors, too drywall installation and yes of course remodeling.
I have even heard of subcontractors on permitted jobs being question about their license and yes in some states you must have a license even as a subcontractor.
Some homeowners have even had “stop work” orders. Even if you are the homeowner you still have to pull a permit in some cities & states.

The point is, work is so very valuable to all of us right now that we must bid smart, do a even better job than before (as if that is possible) and protect our interest. For some if their states requires every person working on a home or business have a license, then some license contractors are beginning to enforce it.

This isn't a new idea, its just becoming more popular. Contractors have always “called-in” on other contractors if they thought they lost a job to a unlicensed contractor especially, in the slower times usually the winter months.

Anyone and everyone is a handyman, painter, deck builder or landscaper now a days and for the cities and states that don't require license or insurance the real contractors are losing work to the “want a Be's” I guess I shouldn't be so hard. Maybe they are the “have to Be's” because people need work and if you painted in college or helped your dad build a deck, now your a “big time contractor.”

For these contractors who have been doing business in the areas where a license isn't required or only required on new construction, they have little recourse. The advantage they have is their experience and you can't beat on the job experience in construction, oh and they have the tools & equipment for the job.

I could go on and on about does a homeowner really save money using an inexperienced contractor with no tools but I will save that blog for later.

Until then if you are looking for a contractor, subcontractor or employee check us out at MyContractorlist.com our site is built for all contractors for all states and cities to show all of their information, the information they want you to know.