Step 1 — Verify the license
Go to cslb.ca.gov's Check a License and search the number or business name. You'll see the classification (B for general building), active status, and any disciplinary history. Our own number is CSLB #1036242 — check us the same way you'd check anyone.
Step 2 — Compare bids on the same scope
Three bids mean nothing if they describe three different projects. Insist each bidder prices the same written scope — materials named, quantities stated, exclusions listed. The cheap bid that omits waterproofing isn't cheap.
Step 3 — Understand the payment law
California Business & Professions Code caps residential down payments at 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less, with progress payments tied to completed work. A written schedule that matches the law is a good sign; demands beyond it are a walk-away.
Step 4 — Put change orders in writing
Remodels uncover surprises. The difference between a good contractor and a bad one is a signed, priced change order before the extra work starts — never a verbal 'we'll figure it out.'
Step 5 — Check insurance and ask about the crew
Ask for a certificate of liability insurance, and ask who is actually doing the work. Employees and long-term subs with a named site lead produce the polite, thorough job sites our own reviewers write about.
Red flags during the bid
A bid with no scope breakdown, pressure to sign today for a price that expires, requests for cash payment, a down payment above the legal 10% or $1,000 cap, and refusal to share license or insurance numbers. Any one of these is a reason to walk; two is a guarantee. A legitimate contractor hands you a written scope, a license number you can check, and time to think.
Before the estimate, before the contract
Use this page as a pre-conversation checklist: note which questions apply to your house, and bring them to every estimate you book. A contractor who answers the permit, sequence, and scope questions plainly — without deflecting to price — is telling you how the whole job will run. Where your parcel or jurisdiction departs from what is written here, trust the site visit over the article; guides describe the pattern, not your specific lot. We wrote these from jobs we have actually built around Winnetka and the west Valley, and we update them when California rules move. If your project sits somewhere this guide does not reach, call (747) 203-9716 or email Ofir Construction Inc. and we will walk the property free of charge, anywhere in our service area, before anyone talks price.
Common questions
What does a 'B' license cover?
A B — General Building classification covers projects requiring at least two unrelated building trades, which includes virtually every remodel, addition, and new home. Specialty C-classifications cover single trades like roofing or plumbing.
Is a written contract required?
Yes — California requires home improvement contracts in writing for projects over $500, with start dates, payment schedule, and license number included.
Should I always take the lowest bid?
Take the bid that prices the same written scope with the clearest plan for permits and scheduling. The lowest number usually omits something the others included — waterproofing, permits, or cleanup — and bills it back as a change order later.
Can I check a contractor's workers' compensation?
Yes — the CSLB license lookup shows workers' compensation status. If employees will be on your property, active coverage protects you from liability if someone gets hurt.
Related guides and services
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- General Contracting and Home Remodeling — one contract for permits, every trade, and the final walkthrough.
- General contractor in Winnetka — our home city
- General contractor in Woodland Hills
From reading to building
Reading is step one; walking the property is step two. Call (747) 203-9716 or email OfirConstruction@gmail.com for a free site visit anywhere in our service area — licensed CSLB #1036242, verifiable at cslb.ca.gov before any money changes hands.