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User Stats

4
Posts
2
Votes
Keisuke Takemoto
  • New to Real Estate
  • Santa Cruz, CA
2
Votes |
4
Posts

Contractor doesn’t feel comfortable giving me lic. Number

Keisuke Takemoto
  • New to Real Estate
  • Santa Cruz, CA
Posted

So we have an online portal for contractors to submit bids and SoW.

He said he will submit everything except the license number and never had a lender require it. I told him well my lender does. So I told him if you aren’t comfortable with that would you feel comfortable giving directly to lender? He says that’s fine.


What do you all think? 

User Stats

210
Posts
78
Votes
Jason Taken
Lender
  • Lender
  • Chicago, IL
78
Votes |
210
Posts
Jason Taken
Lender
  • Lender
  • Chicago, IL
Replied
Quote from @Keisuke Takemoto:

So we have an online portal for contractors to submit bids and SoW.

He said he will submit everything except the license number and never had a lender require it. I told him well my lender does. So I told him if you aren’t comfortable with that would you feel comfortable giving directly to lender? He says that’s fine.


What do you all think? 


 License numbers are generally public record. You should be able to look him up directly on your state licensing board website. Start there.

User Stats

1,635
Posts
2,094
Votes
Jeff S.#5 Private Lending & Conventional Mortgage Advice Contributor
  • Lender
  • Los Angeles, CA
2,094
Votes |
1,635
Posts
Jeff S.#5 Private Lending & Conventional Mortgage Advice Contributor
  • Lender
  • Los Angeles, CA
Replied

I’m confused, @Keisuke Takemoto. He will give his license number to your lender but not to you? Is it secret?

Contractor license numbers are matters of public record and easily looked up on your state’s Contractors State License Board. What is he trying to hide? What will happen when you ask for evidence of his liability and workers' comp insurance?

This is such a ​​minor​ and standard request that I’d be careful doing business with anyone for which ​it's a big deal. It will only get worse.

Hard pass unless he brings an extremely narrow expertise.

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User Stats

2,466
Posts
4,197
Votes
Jill F.
  • Investor
  • Akron, OH
4,197
Votes |
2,466
Posts
Jill F.
  • Investor
  • Akron, OH
Replied

I'll bet you a dollar he doesn't have a license.

User Stats

281
Posts
322
Votes
Al D.
  • Investor
  • San Francisco, CA
322
Votes |
281
Posts
Al D.
  • Investor
  • San Francisco, CA
Replied

Is this California? If so, the law on this is one of the most straight forward ones out there:

CA B&P 7030.5 (https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=BPC§ionNum=7030.5.)

“Every person licensed pursuant to this chapter shall include his license number in: (a) all construction contracts; (b) subcontracts and calls for bid; and (c) all forms of advertising, as prescribed by the registrar of contractors, used by such a person.”

Only times I’ve been given some excuse on this, the bidder was not a licensed contractor, while claiming to be such. I’d scrutinize this one if he provides any license info eventually - every legitimate contractor I’ve ever dealt with knows the above *requirement* well. No license, likely no insurance, etc.

User Stats

814
Posts
624
Votes
Alan F.#3 Rehabbing & House Flipping Contributor
  • Flipper/Rehabber
  • California
624
Votes |
814
Posts
Alan F.#3 Rehabbing & House Flipping Contributor
  • Flipper/Rehabber
  • California
Replied
Quote from @Keisuke Takemoto:

So we have an online portal for contractors to submit bids and SoW.

He said he will submit everything except the license number and never had a lender require it. I told him well my lender does. So I told him if you aren’t comfortable with that would you feel comfortable giving directly to lender? He says that’s fine.


What do you all think? 


 The last post is correct, we are required to have our license classification and clearly displayed on our trucks, business cards and any other advertising. Even the size of font is under the B&P laws. Here's a link to the CSLB license check.

https://www.cslb.ca.gov/OnlineServices/CheckLicenseII/CheckL..

One thing though...in my 33 years of contracting, I've had dozens of illegal permits pulled under my number leading to major problems. Since they are public numbers theres absolutely no protection for us from fraud.

When submitting my accord for proof of insurance that goes directly from carrier to customer, not through my hands, unfortunately people have committed fraud with that number too.

User Stats

16,353
Posts
13,859
Votes
Chris Seveney
Pro Member
#1 All Forums Contributor
  • Investor
  • Virginia
13,859
Votes |
16,353
Posts
Chris Seveney
Pro Member
#1 All Forums Contributor
  • Investor
  • Virginia
Replied

@Keisuke Takemoto

Run away. He doesn’t have one or if he does he has complaints against him

Asking for a GC license is like asking your mortgage broker for their license. They are public record and I would not issue a contract without one

User Stats

4
Posts
2
Votes
Keisuke Takemoto
  • New to Real Estate
  • Santa Cruz, CA
2
Votes |
4
Posts
Keisuke Takemoto
  • New to Real Estate
  • Santa Cruz, CA
Replied

Thanks everyone I’ll go the safe route.

So he says he doesn’t like to give it out because people will pull permits using his license. 🤔

User Stats

814
Posts
624
Votes
Alan F.#3 Rehabbing & House Flipping Contributor
  • Flipper/Rehabber
  • California
624
Votes |
814
Posts
Alan F.#3 Rehabbing & House Flipping Contributor
  • Flipper/Rehabber
  • California
Replied
Quote from @Keisuke Takemoto:

Thanks everyone I’ll go the safe route.

So he says he doesn’t like to give it out because people will pull permits using his license. 🤔


 Unfortunately it happens alot, online permitting really accelerated it.

User Stats

12
Posts
6
Votes
Replied

Hey I have a lot of contacts with contractors if you are interested in possibly finding someone who fits more in line with your business model . They have worked on a lot of projects for investors I have worked with and I'm sure they could help you on this current or future projects . Please DM if you wish to discuss more 

User Stats

1,687
Posts
1,358
Votes
Paul De Luca
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Chicago, IL
1,358
Votes |
1,687
Posts
Paul De Luca
Agent
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Chicago, IL
Replied
Quote from @Keisuke Takemoto:

So we have an online portal for contractors to submit bids and SoW.

He said he will submit everything except the license number and never had a lender require it. I told him well my lender does. So I told him if you aren’t comfortable with that would you feel comfortable giving directly to lender? He says that’s fine.


What do you all think? 

 Run. Find a new contractor.

Imagine a realtor refused to provide their real estate license number. At best, it's suspicious.

  • Real Estate Agent Illinois (#475.190985)

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