How Important are License Numbers?

Last week I was in trial as a retained expert in a case involving an un-licensed contractor and a resulting criminal complaint. It made me think about the implications of dealing with shady or unlicensed contractors. Since I started California Deck Inspection, there have been newcomers jumping on the inspection bandwagon. Consumers should be aware of the importance of license numbers as they are a key indicator of experience. Our license 423954 was issued in 1982. We have over forty years of hands on experience in the construction of decks and waterproofing systems. Most, if not all companies purporting to be “experts” in deck inspection have seven digit numbers issued in the past few years such as 1052109, 100111 and 1118042 to name a few. Some companies are operating under pseudonyms that aren’t licensed by the CSLB. As a long time investigator for the Contractors State License Board, I have personally seen the carnage inflicted on consumers by unlicensed or expired license contractors. The moral of the story is “buyer beware” and do your homework by checking licenses, obtaining insurance certs and getting actual referrals before hiring any contractor.