Step 1 — Verify the license
Go to cslb.ca.gov's Check a License and search the number or business name. You'll see the classification (B for general building), active status, and any disciplinary history. Our own number is CSLB #1036242 — check us the same way you'd check anyone.
Step 2 — Compare bids on the same scope
Three bids mean nothing if they describe three different projects. Insist each bidder prices the same written scope — materials named, quantities stated, exclusions listed. The cheap bid that omits waterproofing isn't cheap.
Step 3 — Understand the payment law
California Business & Professions Code caps residential down payments at 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less, with progress payments tied to completed work. A written schedule that matches the law is a good sign; demands beyond it are a walk-away.
Step 4 — Put change orders in writing
Remodels uncover surprises. The difference between a good contractor and a bad one is a signed, priced change order before the extra work starts — never a verbal 'we'll figure it out.'
Step 5 — Check insurance and ask about the crew
Ask for a certificate of liability insurance, and ask who is actually doing the work. Employees and long-term subs with a named site lead produce the polite, thorough job sites our own reviewers write about.
Red flags during the bid
A bid with no scope breakdown, pressure to sign today for a price that expires, requests for cash payment, a down payment above the legal 10% or $1,000 cap, and refusal to share license or insurance numbers. Any one of these is a reason to walk; two is a guarantee. A legitimate contractor hands you a written scope, a license number you can check, and time to think.
How to use this guide on your project
Read the quick answer first — it is the one-paragraph version — then the section that matches your stage, and take the FAQ to your first contractor meeting. The questions worth asking any builder are the ones this page raises: which office issues the permit, what drives the schedule, and what is assumed in the number you are about to be quoted. Compare contractors on those answers, not on the total alone, because the cheaper bid that skips the permit path is not cheaper. Rules here reflect general California and Valley practice; your lot can differ, and when it does, a site visit settles it faster than more reading. Twenty years of same-shop work stand behind these pages — call (747) 203-9716 or email for a free walkthrough anywhere in our service area, from Winnetka to the wider rim.
Common questions
What does a 'B' license cover?
A B — General Building classification covers projects requiring at least two unrelated building trades, which includes virtually every remodel, addition, and new home. Specialty C-classifications cover single trades like roofing or plumbing.
Is a written contract required?
Yes — California requires home improvement contracts in writing for projects over $500, with start dates, payment schedule, and license number included.
Should I always take the lowest bid?
Take the bid that prices the same written scope with the clearest plan for permits and scheduling. The lowest number usually omits something the others included — waterproofing, permits, or cleanup — and bills it back as a change order later.
Can I check a contractor's workers' compensation?
Yes — the CSLB license lookup shows workers' compensation status. If employees will be on your property, active coverage protects you from liability if someone gets hurt.
Related guides and services
- The Kitchen Remodel Sequence That Works — Why kitchen remodels stall and the trade order that prevents it — cabinets before demo, st…
- Water Damage: The First 48 Hours — The contractor's first-48-hours checklist after a leak: safety, insurance-grade documentat…
- General Contracting and Home Remodeling — one contract for permits, every trade, and the final walkthrough.
- General contractor in Winnetka — our home city
- General contractor in Woodland Hills
Want this applied to your house?
Guides can only go so far — your parcel, your permit office, and your house have specifics. Call (747) 203-9716 or email OfirConstruction@gmail.com and we'll walk the property free of charge anywhere in our service area. Licensed CSLB #1036242 — verify at cslb.ca.gov.