Whenever you are looking to renovate or construct a new property, you will want to invest in a property that meets your expectation. You will also want to carry out the construction works without going through the trouble of sourcing equipment, materials and organizing labor. By hiring a contractor, you will enjoy the convenience of having a professional to handle the construction on your behalf. Despite the important role that contractors play in ensuring quality work, there are many instances where people to do not hire one when they should.
When this happens, there is a lot that could go wrong.
If you don’t meet code, you may have to tear everything out and start over
In every state, there are stringent building construction and safety codes that every project must follow. This is especially true in Florida, where we face a brutal rainy season each year, which often includes high winds and even hurricanes. These regulations are designed to ensure the safety of construction workers as well as the occupants of the building once construction has been completed. Some of the critical areas of which the codes touch include material performance, building performance, sustainable development, and energy efficiency. At different stages of the construction work, the relevant authorities will send experts to inspect progress and establish whether the building meets the required quality and safety standards.
Failure to hire a licensed contractor may result in the building not meeting the building codes, which are always changing, in that state. In some cases, the authorities will demand that the building be pulled down and construction work begins afresh. In the end, you will end up losing both the time and money that you invested in the project.
Workmanship will probably be lower quality
Let’s face it—unless you have a lot of hands on experience in construction, it’s almost a certainty that you won’t do as good of a job as a licensed contractor would. Knowing exactly which materials, techniques, and tools to use under which circumstances is vital to a successful construction project. Not to mention the fact that practice makes a huge difference, so even if you know exactly how to do a particular job, you still won’t do it as well as someone who does it regularly.
When a licensed completes your project properly, in most cases, it will last longer and look better than if you had done it yourself. This obviously can have a significant impact on your property value, or even your ability to sell it in the future. Mistakes that you might view as “simple” can become very costly when personal circumstances change, according to Carrollwood divorce attorney George Melendez. “I’ve seen several cases, and heard of many more, where a couple did their own repairs when they should have hired a contractor, then later during their divorce, found out that those repairs all had to be redone by a professional. In the end, it ended up costing them significantly more and made an already difficult time in their lives even more difficult.”
Homeowners insurance won’t cover injuries or damage caused by unlicensed contractors
A licensed contractor will have the necessary insurance coverage to cover any injuries to workers, and/or damages during or as a result of the construction process. Your home owners insurance will not cover any of these, which means that you will be on the hook in the event that your property is damaged, or an unlicensed contractor is injured while working on your property. We all know how quickly medical expenses can add up, and certain damages to your home, such as a burst pipe, leaky roof, an electrical fire, can add up even faster, so just don’t risk it.