licensed and insured

How do you go about verifying whether a contractor, electrician, etc. are really licensed and insured? We're having some work done on our home, and I just want to be sure we get someone licensed to do the work...Maybe I've watched too many episodes of Holmes on Homes, but I just want this job done right.

Also, is there a website where I can check if any complaints have been filed against a company?

Any advice from someone who's BTDT welcomed!
TIA

Re: licensed and insured

I would check the Better Business Bureau definitely,

for suffolk you can check if a contractor is liscensed here

http://www.co.suffolk.ny.us/Consumer%20Affairs/ContractorSearch/

I had a "friend" do electrical work on our house, every since then I always check to see if they are on better business bureau, if not I don't even consider....

Re: licensed and insured

Re: licensed and insured

as far as checking if they are insured you can always ask a company for a CURRENT certificate of insurance. they then would have to request one from their insurance company and it will have on it the date requested, the policy period and the amount they are insured for. You will also then know what company they have their insurance through and their policy number if there is a problem.

If you really wanted to you could request that you be listed as an additional interest on the certificate. Usually then the certificate will have your name and address on the bottom and in the remarks should be the type of work being done, an approximation of how long the work is going to take to complete and sometimes the estimated cost of the job that is being done.

IMO - I would at least ask for the certificate of insurance. That way you know that if anything happens you know that they are definitely insured.

HTH !!