How to Choose the Right Contractor for Your Florida Renovation

Hiring a contractor is one of the most important decisions you'll make as a homeowner. Get it right and your renovation runs smoothly, on time, and on budget. Get it wrong and you're dealing with delays, cost overruns, and work that has to be redone.

In Florida, where the construction market is active and licensing requirements are strict, knowing what to look for matters even more. Here's a straightforward guide.

1. Verify Their License — Every Time

In Florida, residential contractors are required to hold a state license. For general contractors, that means a CBC (Certified Building Contractor) or CGC (Certified General Contractor) license issued by the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.

Don't take anyone's word for it. Look up the license number on the DBPR website before you sign anything. A licensed contractor carries liability insurance and is accountable to the state — an unlicensed one is not.

United Construction holds license CBC1261428. We encourage every homeowner to verify it.

2. Ask for References — and Actually Call Them

Any reputable contractor will have a list of past clients willing to speak on their behalf. Ask for three to five references from projects similar to yours, and call them.

Ask: Was the project completed on time? Did the final cost match the estimate? How did the contractor handle problems when they came up? Would you hire them again?

3. Get Everything in Writing

A verbal agreement is not a contract. Before any work begins, you should have a written contract that includes the full scope of work, materials to be used, payment schedule, start and completion dates, and what happens if something changes.

Be wary of contractors who resist putting details in writing. Vague contracts protect the contractor, not you.

4. Understand the Payment Schedule

Legitimate contractors do not ask for full payment upfront. A standard payment schedule ties payments to project milestones — a deposit to start, payments as work progresses, and a final payment upon completion.

If a contractor asks for 50% or more before work begins, that's a red flag.

5. Look for Local Experience

Florida construction has unique requirements. Humidity, hurricane codes, soil conditions, and local permitting processes all affect how a project is built and what it costs. A contractor with deep Florida experience will anticipate these factors — one without it will be learning on your dime.

6. Communication Matters More Than You Think

The best technical contractor in the world is frustrating to work with if they don't communicate. Before you hire, pay attention to how quickly they respond to calls and emails, whether they show up on time for meetings, and whether they explain things clearly.

A contractor who communicates well during the sales process will communicate well during the project. One who doesn't — won't.