Hiring A Contractor For Your Project

HIRING THE RIGHT CONTRACTOR(S) 

FOR YOUR PROJECT

 
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Visit the Building Permits Advice on My Website.

Once you've made the affirmative decision to embark on a construction or renovation endeavor, the process of selecting experienced and capable professional contractors becomes paramount.

Depending on your location, certain counties may mandate county building permits, while others might only necessitate city permits, and some areas may require both. To ensure compliance, kindly consult your local municipality to familiarize yourself with the specific building requisites applicable to your situation. You can effortlessly access this information by conducting a quick online search. Type "[name of your county or city] building permits" into a search engine, and you will be directed to the relevant official page containing the essential details. 

Your commitment to adhering to these guidelines contributes to a smooth and successful property endeavor.It's important to recognize that the landscape of contracting projects, whether from handymen or contractors, has undergone significant evolution. 

In the past, the practice involved hiring a general contractor (GC) who managed a team of hourly paid specialists, each skilled in their respective areas (plumbers, electricians, roofers, carpenters, etc.), to oversee the entire project. Over time, the model shifted as GCs transitioned away from employing hourly workers and instead subcontracted licensed specialists as required under their GC license, eliminating the need to maintain a permanent workforce during downtimes.

A crucial distinction exists between a registered corporation name, state business registration, and professional license registration. It's essential to remain cautious as fraudulent individuals may pose as GCs or other licensed professionals distributing fake business cards with fabricated license numbers. Some may hold valid registered businesses but lack the appropriate specialist licenses. Others might display outdated or expired license numbers, often belonging to relatives.

Recent times have brought about considerable changes. Anyone can establish an entrepreneurial business or company within their state. Often these individuals possess substantial general construction knowledge but lack a GC or specialty license. They gather projects and assemble state-licensed specialists who bid independently for their services, allowing them to accrue significant labor profit rather than being hourly laborers. These entrepreneurs then charge a substantial project-based fee for organizing the licensed specialists, supervising the project, and contributing their own unlicensed work. Most importantly, they engage a GC (starting at an average of $3,500 depending on the size of the project) who facilitates subcontractors to operate under their GC master license, secures necessary municipal permits, and provides project-specific workman's insurance. It's worth noting that the GC might not actively participate in or even set foot on the project.

Prior to engaging a project entrepreneur, GC, or specialty licensee in Florida, it is of utmost importance to verify the entrepreneur's registered business name using the Florida Corporation registrations on www.sunbiz.com. Additionally, for each hired specialty licensee involved in your project, ensure you verify their “active” credentials by visiting the Florida Department Of Business And Professional Regulations at www.myfloridalicense.com. This meticulous verification process guarantees that you are partnering with legitimate, licensed professionals for your project.