Contact Umpqua Valley HBA (info@umpquavalleyhba.org) to see if the contractor you are thinking about hiring is licensed. Or Check with the Oregon Construction Contractors Board (CCB), www.ccb.state.or.us before asking for bids or entering into any agreements with a contractor.
When checking a contractor’s license:
- Verify the contractor is actively licensed. This means the contractor can legally work in Oregon and has a surety bond and liability insurance, and assures you access to the CCB Dispute Resolution Process.
- Check the contractor’s history of complaints (disputes) and any other licenses associated with the contractor’s name.
Get more than one bid from licensed contractors before making a decision. Don’t automatically accept the lowest bid. A higher bid may be worth the price in better materials or workmanship. If you get a very low bid, the contractor may have made a mistake or not bid everything. If the bid is too low to make a profit, they may use cheaper materials or take shortcuts.
Ask for references. Check with previous customers. Were they satisfied with the work? Was the work completed on time? Did the contractor return phone calls? Learn as much as you can about the contractor you are hiring.
