Straight answers to the questions Tampa Bay homeowners and business owners ask most about hiring contractors, choosing vendors and planning projects.
Pick two or three providers who specialize in your exact job, verify their Florida license and insurance, and compare written quotes with the same scope. Ask how they handle permits, change orders and warranties, and read the contract before you pay anything. Our free Homeowner's Services Guide walks through each step.
Search the person or company at myfloridalicense.com, the Florida DBPR "Verify a License" site. Make sure the license is current, matches the type of work, and matches the name on your contract. Some trades are licensed by the county or city instead, so if the state search is empty, ask which local license they hold and check it with that office.
At minimum, general liability insurance, plus workers' compensation if they have employees. Ask for a certificate of insurance sent directly from their insurance agent, and check that the policy dates cover your project. If an uninsured worker is hurt on your property, it can become your problem.
Three written quotes is a good rule for most projects. Fewer makes it hard to spot an outlier; more usually adds noise. Make sure every quote covers the same scope, materials and permits so you're comparing like with like.
A much lower quote usually means a thinner scope, cheaper materials, no permit, or extra charges later through change orders. Ask the provider exactly what is and isn't included before you decide.
Keep the deposit reasonable and tied to materials or scheduling, and never pay most of the price up front. Under Florida law, a contractor who takes more than 10% of the contract price as a deposit generally must apply for permits within 30 days and start work within 90 days, unless the contract says otherwise.
A Notice to Owner is a notice from a subcontractor or supplier telling you they're working on your project and could file a lien if they aren't paid. Even if you pay your contractor, unpaid subs and suppliers can place a lien on your home. Before final payment, ask for written lien releases from everyone who sent you a notice.
Many projects do, including roofing, most electrical, plumbing and HVAC replacements, structural work, generators, pools and many fences and sheds. Rules vary by city and county, so check with your local building department. A licensed contractor should pull the permit under their own license; be wary if they ask you to pull it yourself.
The company's name, address and license number; a detailed scope with materials; the total price and a payment schedule; start and finish dates; who pulls permits; warranty terms; how change orders work; and cleanup. If it isn't written down, it doesn't exist.
Cash only, pressure to sign today, no written contract, no physical address, asking you to pull the permit, a large up-front payment, "leftover material" deals, and door-to-door crews after a storm. Florida penalties for unlicensed work are tougher during a declared emergency, so verify before anyone starts.
Often, yes. Many Tampa Bay communities require architectural approval for roofs, fences, exterior paint, windows, screen rooms and other exterior changes. Get approval in writing before you sign with a contractor so the project doesn't stall.
Write a one-page scope, invite three vendors with commercial experience in your property type, verify licenses and insurance, and compare bids on the same form. Put scope, price, schedule, insurance and change orders in a written agreement. Our free Business Services Guide includes a bid comparison form and checklist.
A certificate of insurance (COI) from their agent, workers' compensation coverage or exemption, a W-9 before the first payment, the relevant Florida license, and proof the business is active on sunbiz.org. Track insurance expiration dates and request renewed certificates every year.
A certificate of insurance (COI) is proof of a vendor's coverage. Ask for it to come directly from their insurance agent, with your company (and your landlord, if the lease requires) listed as certificate holder or additional insured. It protects you if the vendor damages property or someone is hurt.
Check your lease first. Many commercial leases control who can work on the building, require landlord approval, and set insurance minimums for vendors. Getting approval in writing first avoids disputes and delays.
Scope and quality standards, price and payment terms, schedule, response times for urgent issues, insurance and indemnification, a written change-order process, warranty terms, and term and termination with notice periods for recurring service.
Every one to two years is common for janitorial, landscaping, pest control and maintenance contracts. Re-bidding keeps pricing honest and gives you a chance to tighten the scope based on what you've learned.
Keep an equipment list with ages and service dates, schedule preventive HVAC, roof and plumbing maintenance, and line up backup vendors for critical trades before storm season. Small scheduled visits cost far less than after-hours emergencies.
It depends on the system's age, the cost of the repair, and refrigerant. A common rule is to consider replacement when a system is 10 to 15 years old and the repair is a large share of a new system's cost, or when an older unit uses R-22 refrigerant. Get a written diagnosis and a quote for both options.
Late fall through spring is usually best, before the summer rains and peak hurricane season. Roofers book up after storms, so planning early gives you more choice and better scheduling. A roof replacement in Florida requires a permit.
Make sure everyone is safe, photograph the damage, prevent further water intrusion with a temporary tarp if it's safe to do so, and contact your insurance company. Verify any contractor's license before signing anything, and be cautious of door-to-door storm crews.
Trim trees, check the roof, gutters and drainage, plan window protection, service your generator, photograph your property for insurance, and book any repairs before the season peaks. Hurricane season in Florida runs June 1 to November 30.
Yes, a permanently installed standby generator typically needs electrical permits, and gas-fueled units may need fuel or gas permits too. Requirements vary by city and county, so your installer should handle permits and inspections.
Bathroom remodels often take a few weeks and kitchens several weeks to a few months, depending on scope, permits and material lead times. Ask each contractor for a written schedule and what could delay it.
Tampa Services is a Tampa Bay marketplace that connects homeowners and businesses with local service providers. We don't perform the work ourselves. You send one request, and we match it with a local provider who covers your ZIP code and does that type of work.
Yes. Sending a request is free for homeowners and businesses, and you're under no obligation to hire anyone. Providers pay to receive leads.
We cover six counties in the Tampa Bay area: Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Polk and Sarasota.
So your phone doesn't ring off the hook. Each request goes to one provider at a time, and your contact details only go to the provider who accepts the job. If it isn't a fit, the request can be matched with another provider.
Providers submit license and insurance information when they apply, and we keep it on file. Always verify the current status yourself before hiring, using myfloridalicense.com and a certificate of insurance from the provider's agent.
No. Tampa Services connects you with independent providers and does not perform or guarantee their work. Your agreement for the work is with the provider you hire.
Apply online with your trade, service area, license and insurance. After review and approval, you receive requests that match your trades and ZIP codes, and you choose which ones to accept.