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When you picture a dream home, you’re probably not expecting to put on a hard hat and get to work. Even if you do dream of manually building your home, you can’t just head to the hardware store and get started immediately. Depending on the state you’re located in, you’ll likely have to obtain a general contracting license for serious projects such as building a home.
However, even if you’re assuming more of a background role in designing your home, understanding contractor licensing is a smart way to ensure your home is in peak quality and safe for your entire life. These benefits apply in multiple ways when building your dream home.
The Benefits of Contractor Knowledge
Even if you aren’t working as a professional contractor, any home renovation or new home construction can benefit from contractor knowledge. Those unfamiliar with construction skills or processes may desire home features that are impractical or even impossible in a technical sense. Additionally, contractor knowledge can create a safer and better home that adheres to building codes and laws. Even if you’re not doing the construction yourself, you’ll know what goes into obtaining a license to properly vet any contractor you reach out to.
Home Functionality
Those with contractor knowledge involved in building their dream home will know what placements and floorplans make the most sense in terms of function. Those who are only interested in aesthetics over function may find that their dream home isn’t as desirable to live in. For example, many homes regret having laundry locations and bedrooms on separate floors, requiring many stair trips to do simple laundry tasks. Simple planning like this may not require contractor license knowledge, but there are many construction aspects to a home that a layman may not even consider in terms of function.
Beauty Meets Practicality
Obtaining contractor knowledge when building your home allows you to combine the beauty of your ideal home with practicality. You’ll know what placements look the best as well as function the best. Knowledge of various materials and their durability will help your home last longer and look better in the long-term. You’ll know what materials and building practices to avoid at all costs, and you’ll know how to identify any corner-cutting in your home’s building process. You’ll also know what is possible in terms of construction, so you’re not adding a costly or impossible job for your hired contractors.
Home Safety
Contractor knowledge ensures that your home is safe, and not just during the construction process! Knowledge of how materials can be used or how they break down can reduce significant injuries. You’ll be up to date on building codes and construction safety to reduce issues with replacement or the durability of the home. You’ll understand what needs replacing and when. A safer home is a better home. If your dream home isn’t safe, is it really a dream home?
Home Value
High-quality construction on a home makes it last longer, safer, and more desirable in value. If you ever need to sell a home for any reason, you can feel secure in the knowledge that your contracting license expertise contributed to the durability of the home. This can make resale value climb as an investment. Even if you have no plans to sell, you know you’re living in a safe and secure home. You’ve put in a lot of money to create your dream, so it needs to be worth it.
Avoiding Fines and Legal Matters
A lack of contracting knowledge can lead to unsafe home construction. This can mean low-quality materials, lack of permits, or ignoring building safety codes. Not only can this cause safety hazards or injuries to anyone living in or visiting the property, but it also can stir up legal matters. Homeowner associations or the state can fine for buildings not up to code or without a permit. Expensive renovations may have to take place if code violations are enforced. Legal issues in general typically require attorneys, which means costly legal fees.
Contractor Licensing Requirements
Qualifications or requirements to obtain a contractor license depend on location. Some states, such as New York, only require licensing for certain projects (though some counties may operate differently within the state). Other states typically require pre-licensing training, a certain number of hours of experience, and passing an exam. Some example state requirements follow.
Oregon
Obtaining a contractor license in Oregon requires the applicant to be an adult and have at least sixteen hours of pre-licensing training from approved educators. Then, they will have to pass a contractor exam.
Washington
Washington works a bit differently from other states, in a somewhat similar manner to New York’s requirements. Instead of passing an exam, an application fee, proof of liability insurance, and other requirements are needed to register as a contractor. However, not following these steps can result in serious fees and other problems.
California
In California, you must also be an adult, and have at least four years of qualified construction training or experience (entry-level or journey-level work counts). You’ll also have to pass a two-part exam.
Conclusion
Even if you don’t dream of doing manual labor in the construction of your dream home, it’s important to understand the requirements and skills for obtaining a general contractor license. It can help ensure your home is durable, safe, and practical—and you’re hiring the right team to construct it.
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