Vetting General Contractors

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Ravenvalor said:
Hello,

Is there a good protocol for vetting general contractors especially out of state general contractors?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

If there is a licensing board, you might check to see if there are any complaints against them.
 
Licensing board and secretary of state for complaints, actions, limits, people involved, address, and years in business.
Look up the names found on those two places for other past businesses they were / are involved with.
Sometimes you can enter a partial business name to see if other companies show up from the past.

Look out for the same people starting a company closing after a bit, then restarting under a new name.
Such as
Joe Blow president of Con Construction 2011-2012.
Joe Blow president of Con Builders 2013-2014
Joe Blow president of Con Building 2015-2016
Joe Blow president of Con Building Construction 2017- current
This case they open a shop run up dept, don't pay subs, and restart.

A low insurance or bond limit for the project.

Sometimes you see the same attorneys listed with many companies as a representative, that's normal.

Then google the business name, address, people, and phone.
Sometimes the address and phone is tied to an unrelated business.
Google map the business front.
 
Ravenvalor said:
Hello,

Is there a good protocol for vetting general contractors especially out of state general contractors?

Thanks,
Click to expand...

there is usually a state website for verifying their license.

that website will also usually have their bond number listed, along
with a bit of information about the owners, etc.

check the bonding history.

if you can't get paid, a claim on the bond can be filed with the bonding
company, without a court judgment.

i had a guy who'd been jerking me around for three months now. i told
him i'd claim his bond if he didn't pay me. he said go ahead and try,
and hung up.

in half an hour, i'd gotten his bonding info, called, and had a form emailed
by the bonding company, filled it out, and returned it.

the next day, i got an email about the claim process from the bonding company.
they copied him on the email.

half an hour later, he called to say the check was in the mail. it showed up the
next day.
 
Yes, you can check their licenses and all that. That's all good. Active1 has a good point about the constant re-starter companies. But, my favorite way to find out about a new GC is to call their subs. When I'm talking to a new potential GC, I usually try to engage in some get-to-know-you chit chat which usually involves me asking who they use for plumbing, HVAC, etc. It seems like I'm just making small talk but I really want to know who the subs are. I then call the subs and get their unbiased opinion on the GC as far as how long they've been in business, how they pay, how they treat the subs, how's their scheduling, etc. IMO, that's best way to get to know a new GC.
 
Fulthrotl said:
there is usually a state website for verifying their license.

that website will also usually have their bond number listed, along
with a bit of information about the owners, etc.

check the bonding history.

if you can't get paid, a claim on the bond can be filed with the bonding
company, without a court judgment.

i had a guy who'd been jerking me around for three months now. i told
him i'd claim his bond if he didn't pay me. he said go ahead and try,
and hung up.

in half an hour, i'd gotten his bonding info, called, and had a form emailed
by the bonding company, filled it out, and returned it.

the next day, i got an email about the claim process from the bonding company.
they copied him on the email.

half an hour later, he called to say the check was in the mail. it showed up the
next day.
Click to expand...

Wow, that's a powerful testimony. I am wondering how many attorneys know about this. I am going to explore this option. Thanks....
 
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