Chapter 37 Further Reading: Finding and Vetting Contractors

Contractor Licensing and Verification

1. Your State Contractor Licensing Board — Official Website [Search: "[your state] contractor license lookup"] Every licensed state has an online portal where you can verify contractor license status, type, and disciplinary history by name, company, or license number. This is the single most important research tool in contractor vetting, and it's free. Bookmark it now — you'll use it for every significant project.

2. "Understanding Contractor Licensing" — National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) nari.org NARI publishes consumer guides explaining what contractor licensing means, what their membership certification requires, and how to use their "Find a Professional" directory to locate vetted remodelers. Their "Certified Remodeler" (CR) designation requires experience, testing, and continuing education. Free to access the consumer guides.

Insurance

3. "Workers' Compensation and the Homeowner" — Insurance Information Institute iii.org The III's coverage of workers' comp liability for homeowners is one of the clearest explanations available of how hiring an uninsured contractor exposes a property owner. Includes state-by-state variations in homeowner liability exposure. Free.

4. "Certificate of Insurance: A Guide for Homeowners" — ACORD acord.org ACORD is the organization that publishes the standard COI form (ACORD 25) used in the industry. Their consumer-facing materials explain how to read a certificate, what the fields mean, and how to verify that a certificate represents a currently active policy. Free.

Avoiding Scams and Red Flags

5. "Contractor Fraud: Red Flags and How to Protect Yourself" — Federal Trade Commission (FTC) consumer.ftc.gov The FTC publishes specific guidance on contractor fraud patterns — storm chasers, deposit scams, assignment of benefits — with practical protective steps. The FTC's consumer complaint database is also searchable if you want to check whether a contractor has been the subject of federal consumer protection complaints. Free.

6. "Storm Chaser and Contractor Fraud" — Insurance Information Institute iii.org Specific guidance on post-disaster contractor fraud, including how assignment of benefits schemes work, what to watch for in the weeks after a storm event, and how to work safely with your insurance company and legitimate local contractors. Free.

Finding Quality Contractors

7. NARI "Find a Professional" Directory nari.org/consumers/find-a-professional NARI's searchable directory of member remodeling contractors, searchable by location and specialty. Members have agreed to NARI's code of ethics and many hold NARI certifications. A useful supplementary search tool, particularly useful for finding remodelers in areas where personal referrals are sparse.

8. "How to Hire a Contractor" — This Old House (thisoldhouse.com) thisoldhouse.com This Old House has published practical contractor hiring guidance for decades. Their online content includes contractor interview questions, contract checklists, and how to work with specific trade contractors. Their video content showing licensed tradespeople at work is also useful for homeowners who want to understand what proper professional work looks like. Free.

Specialty Trade Resources

9. PHCC (Plumbing-Heating-Cooling Contractors Association) Member Directory phccweb.org/find-a-contractor PHCC member contractors are licensed plumbing and HVAC contractors who have met membership requirements. Searchable by zip code. Useful for finding vetted plumbing and heating contractors beyond referral networks.

10. ACCA (Air Conditioning Contractors of America) Member Locator acca.org/find-a-contractor ACCA member companies are HVAC contractors who have met professional standards including technical competency. ACCA members are committed to performing Manual J load calculations for properly sized HVAC installations — a meaningful differentiator from contractors who simply swap old equipment for new of the same size.

11. NRCA (National Roofing Contractors Association) Member Directory nrca.net NRCA member roofing contractors are established businesses that have met NRCA membership standards. In states with limited specific roofing contractor licensing requirements, NRCA membership is one of the better available indicators of professional standing.

12. "Hiring an Electrician: What Homeowners Need to Know" — NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) nfpa.org The NFPA publishes the National Electrical Code (NEC), the standard that governs all residential electrical work in the US. Their consumer guidance on hiring electricians covers what licensed electricians must do, why permits and inspections matter, and how to verify that electrical work has been done correctly. The NFPA's perspective is explicitly safety-focused — a useful counterweight to cost-focused contractor conversations. Free.