If you are one of the many homeowners looking to conduct home remodeling to get your house ready for the holiday season, there are a variety of things you must keep in mind. Yes, price, project duration, and outcome are important, but have you thought about the insurance implications of your home remodeling project?
When choosing the contractor to complete your home upgrades, it is extremely important that you choose a licensed and insured contractor. The last thing you want is for something to go wrong in your project and receive no coverage. Many homeowners wrongly assume that they can just call their homeowners' insurance carrier and request coverage at this point; however, chances are your insurance provider will refuse the protection.
Unfortunately, there are far too many contractors out there without the appropriate insurance and licensing. When working with an unlicensed contractor, you run the risk of having work conducted without proper permits. This can pose unique issues in the future if you ever plan to sell your home, as you will be required to disclose this information to potential buyers.
It is also important to note that California Insurance Code §2750.5 states that unlicensed contractors are no longer classified as independent contractors; rather, they are considered employees of the homeowner. Therefore, you can be held liable for injuries that occur to the contractor and his employees.
You only want to work with licensed contractors who can support themselves and their employees if things were to go awry. If you are unsure if the contractor you are interested in working with is licensed, you can quickly check the status of the contractor's license.
Contact Little & Sons Insurance Services for all of your California homeowners' insurance needs. We will go above and beyond to match you with a contractor that is both insured and licensed!
