How to vet someone before they work in your home

Before you let anyone work in your home, check four things: what the job legally requires, whether they can show you proper coverage, whether they will give you a clear written price, and how they plan to treat your home while they are in it. The right person will be glad you asked. The wrong one will usually give themselves away.

Most homeowners have a story about someone who didn’t show up, didn’t call back, or sent a bill much bigger than the one they agreed to. A little checking up front prevents most of that. Here’s what to check and what to ask.

Step one: know what the job requires

In Florida, some kinds of work require a state license and some don’t. The Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) lists cabinets, countertops, paint, wallpaper, carpet and tile as examples of work that doesn’t require state licensure.

Work in the regulated trades is different. If your job falls into one of those, the person doing it should hold the right state license, and you can check it yourself.

How to check: go to myfloridalicense.com and use the license search, or use the DBPR mobile app. You can search by name or license number. Check three things:

• The name on the license matches the person or business you’re hiring.
• The license is current and active.
• The license type matches the work you need done.

If you’re not sure whether your job needs a license, ask DBPR or your city or county building department before work begins.

Step two: ask about insurance, and confirm it

Whoever you hire, ask whether they carry liability insurance and ask to see the certificate. Then call the insurance company on the certificate and confirm the policy is active. A photo of an old certificate tells you very little.

If they bring helpers, ask how those people are covered too. It’s a fair question, and a professional won’t be offended by it.

Step three: ask the questions that matter

These questions tell you more than any ad.

• Will you give me a written price before you start? Ask what it will include. See what a written home repair price should include.
• Is that a fixed price or an estimate? And what could make it change?
• If something unexpected turns up, what happens? The answer you want: they stop, show you, and give you a written price before doing extra work.
• When can you start, and how long will it take? Listen for a real date, not “sometime next week.”
• Who will actually be in my home? The person you met, or someone else?
• How will you protect my floors and furniture?
• What will the house look like when you leave each day?
• How do I reach you during the job, and how quickly do you usually reply?
• Can I see photos of similar work or talk to someone you’ve worked for?

What does a professional look like?

Before any work starts, you’ll usually see the signs:

• They call back promptly. How someone handles your first call is a fair preview of how they’ll handle the job.
• They arrive when they said they would, or call ahead if they can’t.
• They look carefully before pricing. They ask questions, measure, and open the sticking door rather than glancing at it.
• They explain in plain English what they’ll do and why.
• They put the price in writing without being asked twice.
• They don’t pressure you. A fair price is still fair tomorrow.
• They treat your home with care from the first visit: shoes, floors, pets, privacy.

Red flags

Be cautious if someone:

• Knocks on your door uninvited saying they “happen to be in the neighborhood.”
• Wants a large cash payment up front, especially before any materials are ordered.
• Won’t put a price in writing.
• Can’t give you a full name, a phone number that works, or a business name you can look up.
• Pushes you to decide today, or offers a discount only if you sign right now.
• Asks you to apply for a building permit in your own name for work they are doing.
• Says the work doesn’t need a license when you’re not sure that’s true. Check it yourself.

Trust your instincts

If something feels off, it’s fine to say “thank you, I’ll think about it” and get another opinion. You’re inviting someone into your home. Feeling comfortable with them is part of the job being done well.

If you’d like to talk through a job, Jimmy calls back right away and puts his price in writing before any work starts. Get in touch.