"Hiring" a contractor - what do I need?

[thorsen]

I am going to select roofing and siding contractors this weekend - what do I need to ask for so I don't get sued if someone gets hurt? A copy of their insurance policy, their license number, etc?

[TheDon]

Well make sure they are licensed to work in your area, have some form of insurance to cover their screw ups.. their past work.. proper certifications ..

[rdanz]

And above all have them spell out in the contract exactly what there going to do in detail and for how much.

[GermanStar]

A lie detector...

[mobetta]

Check them out-
do they arrive on time, prepared?
smell like beer?
speak english?
do they dothe work? or just flip it over to a crew of immigrants.
Are they legal immigrants?
do check that they are insured and liscensed. and that they will pull the proper permits, and pay for them, or specify that you pay in the bid.
WHo pays for disposal?

[Jim B.]

Check with the Contractors State Licensing Board for your State. Verify they are licensed and get their license number, and aswk if there were any complaints filed against them

Ask the contractor for references of past satisfied customers, and then CALL the references to verify.

Ask them if they are bonded and insured, and then copies of the insurance policy and the bond.

Get a written contract from the one you employ, and be clear on the time required to finish the job, contemplate a bonus for early completion and a penalty for lateness. Some of these people have their own definition of "time"
and come and go as they feel.

Be clear about demolition issues, city permits as needed, where the contractor4s will park their vehicles, put debris boxes, when and how they will remove their debris, daily clean up, will you need to secure household valuables, undocumented illegals as workers, will there be subcontractors used, there are many things to be aware of.

Carl (cmac2012) is the resident expert here, this is his field, and he is really knowledgeable, so hopefully he will see this question and weigh in with the definitive checklist. It can be a trap for the unwary or a highly satisfactory experience

[Hammertime]

you forgot one important thing;
a large bottle of aspirin

[TwitchKitty]

You can get sued anytime and you can't stop it.

[BENZ-LGB]

Originally Posted by thorsen

I am going to select roofing and siding contractors this weekend - what do I need to ask for so I don't get sued if someone gets hurt? A copy of their insurance policy, their license number, etc?

The following link is from the California Contractors License Board website.

The consumer information coantained there, especially the tips it offers, would generally apply to Illinois as well.

Look for a similar website for the Illinois contractors licensing board.

Good luck (and be very careful).

http://www.cslb.ca.gov/consumers/default.asp

[BENZ-LGB]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Check with the Contractors State Licensing Board for your State. Verify they are licensed and get their license number, and aswk if there were any complaints filed against them

Ask the contractor for references of past satisfied customers, and then CALL the references to verify.

Ask them if they are bonded and insured, and then copies of the insurance policy and the bond.

Get a written contract from the one you employ, and be clear on the time required to finish the job, contemplate a bonus for early completion and a penalty for lateness. Some of these people have their own definition of "time"
and come and go as they feel.

Be clear about demolition issues, city permits as needed, where the contractor4s will park their vehicles, put debris boxes, when and how they will remove their debris, daily clean up, will you need to secure household valuables, undocumented illegals as workers, will there be subcontractors used, there are many things to be aware of.

Carl (cmac2012) is the resident expert here, this is his field, and he is really knowledgeable, so hopefully he will see this question and weigh in with the definitive checklist. It can be a trap for the unwary or a highly satisfactory experience

Jim, good advice. It tracks with my advice. (I know, great minds think alike).

Carlos (Carl is going Mexican ) is a good source.

So is Mistress. She sued a contractor in small claims court and won!

[Mistress]

If you need to take them to small claims court, i can tell you what you need to do....

[Chris Bell]

Originally Posted by thorsen

I am going to select roofing and siding contractors this weekend - what do I need to ask for so I don't get sued if someone gets hurt? A copy of their insurance policy, their license number, etc?

You need deep pockets and a lawyer

[Dee8go]

Nerves of steel and iron resolve. . .

[Larry Delor]

A dictionary and some beer.

[cmac2012]

Originally Posted by Jim B.

Carl (cmac2012) is the resident expert here, this is his field, and he is really knowledgeable, so hopefully he will see this question and weigh in with the definitive checklist. It can be a trap for the unwary or a highly satisfactory experience

Golly, thanks for the kind words but I can't think of anything to add to the above. Lot of good advice here.

Especially the part about contacting former clients. Roofing can be a bugger what with occasional leaks that are hard to find. Getting good feedback from a satisfied customer is worth a lot.