Know Who You Are Dealing with in Construction
by Tom Reilly, Principal & CEO, RENOVATIONS
It can be a daunting task verifying licensing information for architects and contractors. As a consumer, it is a great idea to do so. Here are some links and steps to help.
Licensing information:
For architects, engineers, surveyors, landscape architects, home inspectors and others, you need to access the Arizona State Board of Technical Registration, at btr.az.gov. Click on Resources, scroll down to Public Information Request, then to Registered Professional Search, enter the last name and you will see your professional’s name, address, license status and expiration date.
Contractors:
For the Arizona Registrar of Contractors, visit azroc.gov. Click on “Contractor Search,” type in the last name, first name, and you will be led to the page telling you the license status, number of complaints and expiration date. There is lots of information here.
That is it for regulatory agencies. Now…
Referral Programs
These can be tricky. Some are clearly better than others. The thing to really look for is how they qualify their members. Most have no other qualifications other than paying a fee. Some go so far as to conduct background checks, drug testing, researching past clients, suppliers, subcontractors and even bankers. These are the programs that mean something.
Here is a list of some of those programs and their contact info along with some information on how extensive their research is.
Rosie on the House:
rosieonthehouse.com
The most extensive research. They conduct criminal background checks, interview past clients, suppliers, subcontractors and financial institutions.
Yavapai County
Contractors Association:
ycca.org
Check for licensing, and some reputation research.
Better Business Bureau:
bbb.org
Check for licensing; collects complaints.
Angie’s List:
angieslist.com. Licensing check.
There are others out there. Look at the website of the company you are researching and see what links they have to organizations and institutions that will give you some insight to the company culture and reputation. Ask for references, and please, check those out!
