Marin Builders Events

In light of Covid-19 and out of concern for the health and safety of our members, employees, industry and community — we sadly do not plan to host any events in any capacity for the foreseeable future.

Even beyond this next period, the guidance from health authorities is to avoid having large groups get together for a while. Given this, we're postponing any large in-person events we had planned including Member Mornings, Scholarship Awards Reception and our Annual Golf Classic Fundraiser. Some of these we may hold as virtual events instead and we'll share more details on that soon. Please visit marinbuilders.com/events/calendar/ for the most up-to-date information.

The most important thing we can do is focus our attention on helping our members protect their businesses amidst the new challenges we all face. Please know that we remain committed to finding alternative ways to network, share industry news, and provide relevant resources through marinbuilders.com and community forums on Facebook and LinkedIn.

Take care of yourselves. We'll continue to do everything we can to help our community stay safe, informed, and connected so that we can all get back up and running again soon.

Check to see if the contractor is a member of the Marin Builders Association in good standing at marinbuilders.com.

Check the contractor license number at www.cslb. ca.gov to make sure it is current and in good standing.

Ask to see the contractor’s pocket license and a current photo ID.

Ask for a list of current contact information (telephone number and business address) for the contractor, subcontractors, and suppliers.

Find out from your local building department whether your project needs a building permit and confirm that your contractor will obtain all necessary permits.

Bring in a contractor early, but retain them with a contract with which you are comfortable. This will help you design a project that is low stress and within your budget.

Get at least three contractor bids and references, and check out, in person, each prospective contractor’s recent similar projects.

Ask whether your contractor carries general liability insurance for employees in case accidental damage occurs during the project, and workers’ compensation insurance for employees.

Make sure all project materials and expectations are spelled out and signed in a written contract, including clean-up, debris removal, and site security.

Ask your contractor if he or she understands your project expectations.

Schedule and document each phase of your project and the corresponding payment schedule. Do not let payments get ahead of the work.

Pay no more than 10% down or $1,000, whichever is less.

Avoid paying in cash.

Keep all of your project documents, including payments and photographs, in a job file.

Try researching your contractor’s name online for additional reviews.

15 TOP TIPS

BEFORE HIRING A CONTRACTOR