Risks of Hiring Unlicensed Contractors
- Poor craftsmanship. Licenses mean that the technicians has completed extensive training and obtained all the necessary knowledge to do the job. In the case of an unlicensed contractor one can only hope they know what they are doing. Faulty installations can lead to bigger losses in the future.
- Safety hazards. It is the direct consequence of poor craftsmanship. Job done by an unlicensed contractor is more likely to go rogue. Think gas leaks or electric fires — better be safe than sorry.
- Voided warranty. Installed equipment manufacturers legally oblige the licensed contractors to provide the maintenance for the installed equipment in case something goes wrong. (Remember that gas leak? Yes, this kind of wrong). An unlicensed contractor usually does not provide the coverage or provides a void warranty. Both will be no use to a homeowner.
- Liability issues. God forbid something happens to the technician during the installation. But if they fall or damage themselves in any way, it is plausible to become the homeowner's problem.
- Cost of the house goes down. Unlicensed contractors usually do not provide a permit for the improvements. So the city council does not know what changes were made to the house. No records, no tracks — nobody knows what has been done. That may easily reduce the cost of the house when it comes to selling it.