Where can I find when hiring contractors, which type of background check is the best, criminal records or licensure?
The simple answer to the second part of the question is easy; criminal records are always vital when trying to hire someone, especially when they will be working in your home. A level of trust must exist when dealing with others, and hiring a contractor you don't know much about without any background information can be a costly mistake. The state issues licenses for contractors and many other professionals, and its information is available online. This source will show the license number, business information, issue and expiration date, status, classifications bonding information which includes the dollar amount of the bond, worker's compensation, and details. However, this information does not cover lawsuits that the contractor has been involved in. Court cases are an essential part of knowing the person you're about to hire and will trust to do work on your home. With online services becoming more available to the public, Riverside county court records can be accessed online for a small fee. The search includes civil cases and can be searched based on an individual's name or business. You can look to find out about any past lawsuits and their details. Contractors are often involved in lawsuits and have a track record in the areas they have provided their services. If nothing whatsoever appears, whether criminal or civil suits, a further search until something is found should be conducted. 'No records found is not necessarily a clean slate and likely not a good sign. This can mean that the contractor may have recently moved their services from another area. Other areas the contractor has worked in may very well be outside the scope of your search and, therefore, will not reveal records. Some searches, such as the contractor's license, may be statewide, but lawsuits in superior courts are by county. Some private services may provide an entire state search, which can be feasible depending on how comprehensive they are. The solution to this problem can be as simple as conducting a people finders search. If one of the first things you know about the individual is where they have resided and worked, you will be able to see where else to look. There are instances where the contractor has moved from one state to California, and the license does not reflect what has occurred in the past. Also, having a contractor's license in more than one state is possible. Lack of records when the contractor claims to be experienced is a cause for concern and requires a deeper look. Checking doesn't hurt. However, the source of information must be considered, particularly when it is provided by the same person you're checking on. The clear drawback of this approach is that the contractor himself selects the references that have been provided. One of the initial red flags appeared when checking our past work of small and simple projects. If it is just painting, the work does not require much of the contractor. However, more extensive work takes more time and skills to be looked at. The contractor's expertise is not in question in most cases; it is the lack of trust in doing a good job regardless of experience. Many of the lawsuits involving contractors are not based on not being experienced or their know-how but on how they conduct business and treat customers. Remember that many contractors work for themselves and don't get fired or lose their job; just that project with you. They can move on to other clients and, in most cases, have others. Some may look at this scenario and think the contractor is responsible for the other individuals that have been hired. This may be true, but you are using someone else's judgment on what is considered good work. Others hired by the contractor may not have been checked out properly or thoroughly or may be new to their team of workers. It is not comforting to hear, 'Oh, sorry, I didn't know. I won't be using him again'. Unfortunately, this means you were a test that went bad. You would have to take into consideration the due diligence of the contractor, did they check out the sub-contractor sufficiently or to your standards before beginning. Another question arising is that wouldn't you be better off hiring the other person yourself?
