[Catfishjeff]

I am a license contractor from California currently living in The Villages. My license was kept current only if I was bonded and carried liability insurance. All customers are issued a copy of our insurance binder which names them as an additionally insured. As for payment schedules, there are limits in CA as to how much a contractor can ask for up front to cover materials. I believe that amount is 20%. Our company only does commercial work so there are some differences. As near as I can tell, Florida is similar to CA.

[mkjelenbaas]

Originally Posted by Richarjon

I see no place for villagers who have hired people under the pretense that they call themselves contractors but, have no license and are not bonded. Why is there no place to inform other villagers of these rip-off people and their companies name?

How about here or Seniors Vs Crime or the permit office??

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by Catfishjeff

I am a license contractor from California currently living in The Villages. My license was kept current only if I was bonded and carried liability insurance. All customers are issued a copy of our insurance binder which names them as an additionally insured. As for payment schedules, there are limits in CA as to how much a contractor can ask for up front to cover materials. I believe that amount is 20%. Our company only does commercial work so there are some differences. As near as I can tell, Florida is similar to CA.

Question - can a contractor in Florida buy a liability policy that "names" all of their customers as being covered for liability as well as the contractor? I have never heard of that type of policy.

[OhioBuckeye]

They do it probably because they’re cheap. Personally I think they’re scammers!

[joelfmi]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

Not entirely true. T&D Pools is certainly a reputable, large, contractor. If you want them to build you a pool at an existing homesite, expect to drop a large deposit before they break out any equipment.

The deposit that they want is to protect their business from customer from not walking away from their job leaving them without paying.

[JMintzer]

Originally Posted by NoMo50

Not entirely true. T&D Pools is certainly a reputable, large, contractor. If you want them to build you a pool at an existing homesite, expect to drop a large deposit before they break out any equipment.

A pool (or any other MAJOR addition to a home) is much different than replacing flooring or having painting or electrical work.

Most contractors will require 1/3 at the start, 1/3 at some designated time in the build and the final 1/3 upon completion to satisfaction...

[Rainger99]

I have never checked to see if a contractor is bonded but I always check to make that they are licensed and insured.

The link is an excellent discussion of construction bonds. I don’t think you would need them for small projects like painting but you would for large projects such as a pool.

How Does a Construction Bond Work

[Garywt]

Just remember they are taking a chance as well. To perform work, they are just betting they will get paid and will not have to chase you. From where we are from you usually have to pay 30% upfront, 30% the day they start and 40% when done.

For the most part we have only used the contractors who built the house as they all left their numbers plus they are all listed in the book supplied by the Villages when we bought our house. We did use venders for painting our cement and enclosing our lanai which worked out great.

[GatorFan]

Workers comp. Required in the State of zflorida if they have one employee. The owner can opt out but it must be on file with state.

One other thing, when anyone is sued, even if they did nothing wrong, they have legal fees.