Check the license first
Since January 2025, California requires a licensed contractor for any job of $1,000 or more in labor and materials, and for smaller jobs too if they need a permit or hired workers. Before you sign anything, look the license up on the Contractors State License Board website or call 800-321-2752. You’ll see whether it’s active, what kind of work it covers, and whether workers’ compensation is on file. If a contractor has employees, workers’ comp is required by law.
The down payment rule
For a home improvement contract, the down payment can’t be more than $1,000 or 10 percent of the contract price, whichever is less. The exception is a contractor with a blanket performance and payment bond on file with the CSLB.
After that, payments shouldn’t get ahead of the work. Each one should match work actually completed or materials delivered. If someone asks for half up front, treat it as a red flag.
What the contract should say
A good contract spells out the work, the specific materials (brand, model, color), start and finish dates, the total price, a payment schedule tied to the work, who pulls the permits, and the contractor’s license number. Any change goes through a written change order signed by both sides.
You also have three business days to cancel after signing, or five if you’re 65 or older, unless the contract was negotiated at the contractor’s place of business.
Where we fit
We aren’t your contractor. We design the project and stay on it while licensed professionals build it. We bring in contractors from our partner network, check their licenses and insurance, and oversee the work so it matches the design. Means, methods, and jobsite safety stay with the contractor, where they belong. You get one point of contact, and every protection above still applies to you.
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