The Risks of Hiring an Unlicensed Contractor
When it comes to home improvement, you might be considering the “DIY” route so you can make the repairs yourself, and you can save some money. If you go this route, you need to have the skills, patience, time, and enough faith in yourself to learn from a number of sources (including tutorial videos). Otherwise, you’ll have to hire a contractor.
The first thing you need to do is conduct some research, so you can find one that specializes in what you need — whether it’s in kitchen and bathroom remodeling, flooring, backsplash, or window replacements. From there, you’ll have to look at what the work they have done in the past. You’ll also have to read their reviews and, of course, their pricing. There is, however, one important part of the evaluation process that many people overlook – whether the contractor has a state home improvement license, workman’s compensation, and general liability insurance.
It may seem attractive to hire an unlicensed or uninisured contractor for professional cabinet painting and refinishing because they promise to save you money, but it can put your home at risk. While a low bid may seem like a great way to cut costs, you could be held liable if any of the workers get injured while they’re on your property. You will be on the hook for any injuries if a worker claims that there was “something unsafe” on your property that contributed to it.
Why You Would Hire an Unlicensed Contractor
It’s expensive to keep a home maintained, and those much-needed repairs or updates can add up over time. Price will always be one of the main factors in deciding who will do the work on a particular project, but your goal is always to find the best mix of price and value. The biggest thing that draws people to use an unlicensed company for cabinet refinishing and painting is the fact that they offer a much lower price. And if you have a tight budget, it can be a strong incentive to hire them.
You may also hire an unlicensed contractor because you were referred by someone you know (such as a family member, friend, or neighbor). Unlicensed contractors will often get work by referrals from the same group of people. Regardless of how you find these companies that paint kitchen cabinets, there is something of which you should be aware. The reason why they can charge such a low rate is because of the corners they have to cut in order to operate without a license.
Like everything in life, you get what you pay for, and the potential savings is a trap that some people fall into. An unlicensed contractor will offer a lower rate while promising to give you the same results as their licensed competition. That’s how they end up getting hired, but it’s risky. If and when things go wrong, you could be held liable in some circumstances. It may cost you more money (and a lot of hassle) in the long run.
How Unlicensed Contractors Offer Lower Prices
There are a few reasons why unlicensed and uninsured contractors for professional cabinet painting and refinishing can outbid their licensed competition. It’s an expensive investment for a contractor to set up their company properly and to pay the necessary fees, workman’s comp, and insurance. The insured contractor not only protects the contractor – but it also protects you and your home. These costs can take a significant chunk out of their profit margin.
How You Can Be Held Liable for Injuries Sustained on the Job
When you hire unlicensed and uninsured contractors for professional cabinet painting and refinishing, they’re not really your contractor. They’re your employee. So, it’s your responsibility to give them a safe work environment and to cover them if they get injured. Unlicensed contractors can sue you for any damages if they get injured while working on your project, and you could be responsible for any of the following:
- Medical bills
- Legal fees
- Lost wages
This is especially true if their injuries keep them out of work. Damages can add up to thousands of dollars, which will cost lot more than the money you were saving. When you hire a licensed contractor, the company will have workers’ compensation for any employees they hire so you won’t have to worry about that extra liability. To avoid these pitfalls, you should always ask to see the contractor’s home improvement license, their general liability, and their workman’s compensation insurance policies.
If you’re looking for one of the best companies that paint kitchen cabinets, will do everything the right way, has a home improvement license in every state that it operates, and has both general liability and workman’s compensation insurance for every employee, get in touch with the Cabinet Painting Guru today!
