Selecting A Roofing Contractor
Do You Know Your Contractor?
It is of great importance to a consumer to know with whom they are contracting. A few simple questions should be answered.
Who is the license holder of the business and do they oversee the daily operations? Consumers can visit the website www.myfloridalicense.com, click on "Verify a License" and begin a search for the license holder of a business. After the licensed individual is found, one should ask to talk to them directly, to see if they are involved in supervising daily operations. If it is a large job, I would suggest meeting with the license holder. If the license holder does not oversee the operations, who does? According to state statute 489.111, a licensed individual must act as the qualifying agent of the business to oversee daily operations. However, this evidently is not enforced as I have encountered numerous companies that are qualified by a license holder who has nothing to do with the companies' operations.
Who are the owners of a business or the officers and CEO of a company? How long has the company or corporation been active and does it match up with the company's advertisements? Consumers can visit the website www.sunbiz.org where they can search public records of a company. Here, they can find out much about an individual or a corporation's practices. Find out who the officers are. Check to see if they have numerous corporations with similar names or in the same field. If they do, ask them why. Do they open and shut corporations on a regular basis? Check officers to see if they have any debt problems.
Does a business have current workers compensation coverage? Does that business have any history of stop-work orders? Consumers can visit the website www.myfloridacfo.com, click on "Business and Professionals," then "Protect Yourself" and then select either "Proof of Coverage" or "Stop Work Orders." Type in the business name and start your search. Companies that use a leasing company for its employees will not show proof of coverage, as they have none of their own employees but are leasing employees, usually because they cannot obtain coverage. If a company has been issued a stop-work order, then they have broken a law or laws concerning workers compensation coverage, usually to avoid paying for proper coverage. Protect yourself.
Is the business financially solid? Search the CEO, owner or license holder to see if they have any state or federal liens or judgments. Visit the website www.sunbiz.org, click on "Document Search," select either "Federal Lien" or "Judgment Lien" and type in the name of the owner/officer to begin your search. Also, most counties have a database at the Clerk of Courts official records that can be searched for liens and judgments on a local basis. This can be very important in selecting a contractor that isn't about to go out of business.
Steppi Roofing, Inc.
Licensed and Insured CCC036967
3609 Old Winter Garden Road, Suite A-9 • Orlando, FL 32805
Phone: 407-293-6574 • Fax: 407-294-3420
Email: steppi@bellsouth.net