How to Choose the Right Licensed Contractor for Your Home Project

Finding a Pro You Can Trust

According to a 2024 Leaf Home survey, nearly 70% of homeowners worry about unreliable contractors, and 41% report having been deceived by a service provider. Those numbers are staggering — but they don't have to be your experience.

Whether you're dealing with a leaky faucet or planning a full kitchen renovation, hiring the right contractor makes all the difference. A licensed, experienced professional protects your home, your investment, and your peace of mind. Here's a step-by-step guide to hiring smart.

1. Verify Their License

Every state handles contractor licensing differently. A plumber in Texas needs a license from the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, while one in California works under the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Electricians, HVAC technicians, and general contractors all have their own licensing requirements that vary by state — and sometimes by county or city.

Before hiring anyone, ask for their license number and verify it directly with your state's licensing board. Most states have online lookup tools where you can confirm the license is active, check for disciplinary actions, and verify insurance requirements are met.

Key state licensing boards to know:

• California: Contractors State License Board (CSLB) — cslb.ca.gov
• Texas: Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) — tdlr.texas.gov
• Florida: Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) — myfloridalicense.com
• New York: NYC Department of Buildings — nyc.gov/buildings

On Traeos, every pro's license information is displayed on their profile and we verify credentials so you don't have to spend hours navigating state websites.

2. Check for Insurance

A licensed contractor should carry both general liability insurance and workers' compensation insurance. General liability protects you if the contractor damages your property. Workers' comp protects you if a worker is injured on your property — without it, you could be liable.

Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) and call the insurance company directly to confirm the policy is active and hasn't lapsed. This takes five minutes and can save you from a six-figure liability.

3. Read Reviews — But Read Them Right

A 2024 ACHR News study found that 91% of homeowners rely on online reviews when choosing a contractor. But not all reviews are created equal. Here's how to read them effectively:

• Look for patterns. Do multiple reviewers mention the same strengths — punctuality, clean work areas, fair pricing? Patterns are more reliable than any single review.
• Prioritize recency. Reviews from the last 6 months matter more than ones from 3 years ago. A company can change a lot in that time.
• Value detail over stars. "Great job!" is nice, but "Replaced our water heater in 3 hours, cleaned up everything, and walked me through the warranty" tells you something useful.
• Watch how they handle criticism. A professional response to a negative review — acknowledging the issue, explaining what happened — says more about a contractor than a hundred five-star ratings.

On Traeos, reviews can only be left by customers who actually completed a job with that pro. No fake reviews, no paid placements — just verified feedback from real projects.

4. Get Multiple Quotes — and Compare Apples to Apples

For any job over $500, get at least three written quotes. But don't just compare the bottom-line number. A quote should itemize:

• Materials (brand, quality grade, quantity)
• Labor hours estimated
• Warranty on workmanship
• Cleanup and debris disposal
• Permit fees, if applicable

The cheapest quote isn't always the best value. A mid-range quote with a comprehensive warranty and quality materials often beats the lowest bidder who uses cheap parts and offers no guarantee. According to HomeServe, roughly 25% of homeowners have $500 or less saved for emergency repairs — which makes it even more important to get the job done right the first time.

5. Get Everything in Writing

A verbal agreement is virtually unenforceable. Before any work begins, you should have a written contract that includes:

• Detailed scope of work
• Total cost and payment schedule
• Start and expected completion dates
• Warranty terms
• Change order process (what happens if unexpected issues come up)
• Cancellation and dispute resolution terms

A standard payment structure for larger jobs is 10-30% deposit, progress payments tied to milestones, and final payment upon completion and your inspection of the work. Never pay 100% upfront.

6. Trust Your Gut

At the end of the day, you're letting someone into your home. If something feels off — vague answers, pressure to sign immediately, reluctance to provide references or put things in writing — trust your instincts and keep looking. A true professional will respect your due diligence, not rush you past it.

The Traeos Advantage

We built Traeos to take the guesswork out of hiring. Every pro on our platform passes a Checkr background check, carries verified credentials, and has transparent reviews from real completed jobs. You see upfront pricing with detailed line-item quotes — and for larger jobs, our milestone system lets you approve and pay as each phase is completed.

No cold-calling strangers from a search engine. No wondering if you're getting a fair price. Just skilled, verified professionals ready to help.