I'm looking to hire a contractor for some home improvements and stumbled upon someone who's got good reviews and is an LLC with insurance, but I found out he isn't registered with the state of Pennsylvania. PA requires home improvement contractors to register if they have general liability insurance, which costs just $50. I'm worried that his lack of registration might signal a problem, possibly related to a criminal background check. I'm curious to know your thoughts on why he might not be registered and if that's a significant red flag.
1 Answer
It sounds like you're already on the right track thinking about his registration status. The background checks could definitely be the reason he's not registered. That said, it's not uncommon for construction workers to have some kind of record, and sometimes it's from way back when. It might be worth having a chat with him to clear up why he hasn't registered yet. Dismissing him outright might be premature.
Totally agree! We once hired a contractor who had a civil issue but still managed to register. It’s about the skills and reliability in the end, but you’d want to dig deeper if he’s vague about it.