Our approach
Credentials first.
The right questions next.
A transparent checklist for evaluating a contractor, not a promise that a listing removes risk.
Active CSLB license
Match the business identity and license number. Confirm active status, classification and disclosed personnel in the current CSLB record.
Bond and workers’ compensation
Review recorded bond details and workers’ compensation information. An exemption is not the same as coverage; ask who will be on site and verify the applicable current requirements.
Insurance
Request current liability coverage documentation. Verify the insurer, policy period and coverage relevant to the project rather than relying on a website badge.
Complaint history
Review publicly available CSLB complaints and discipline. Public records have limitations; absence of a disclosed complaint does not guarantee satisfactory performance.
Written contracts
Look for clear scope, dates, price, payment milestones, permit responsibilities, change-order procedures and required California notices. Check current rules at CSLB.
Communication
Evaluate whether the company explains exclusions, responds directly to questions and identifies who manages the work and decisions.
Portfolio and references
Ask about comparable work and permission to speak with references. Confirm what role the company actually performed. Editorial images on this site are not evidence of a listed company’s project history.
What “vetted” does—and does not—mean here
This page describes the guide’s intended review checklist and the checks homeowners should complete. No completed independent audit, verification date or ongoing monitoring is claimed. Listed-company information is supplied for its listing; plain listings are references, not certified recommendations.
Some listed firms are partners of this guide. Verify any contractor's license at cslb.ca.gov.
Always check the current requirement and license record at CSLB, confirm insurance directly, compare bids and read the contract before hiring.
Open the printable checklist →A considered next step
Good projects begin with the right conversation.
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