Credentials Matter

Nobody can claim that a laborer in the Santa Rosa Valley would be alive today if his boss had a contractor’s license.

But the accidental death of 29-year-old Ladislao Najera Esparza should serve as a reminder for homeowners looking to have a kitchen remodeled, a roof patched, a house painted: Find a licensed contractor.

Riding up a steep horse trail in the scooper bucket of a tractor, Esparza was spraying pesticide to control weeds at the Lexington Hills gated community. When the driver lost control, the tractor toppled, crushing the father of two.

After the accident, investigators learned that Esparza’s employer, Roberts Lawn Care Landscape Maintenance, was fined $700 in 1999 for operating without a contracting license.

Randy Roberts, the Moorpark firm’s owner, also was ordered by the California Contractors State Licensing Board not to do contracting work until he passed the state licensing test.

The board, a division of the state’s Department of Consumer Affairs, began an investigation this week. It may determine that Roberts was doing landscape maintenance, which requires no license. On the other hand, it may find that he was contracting without a license and turn the case over to the Ventura County District Attorney’s office for prosecution.

Whatever the outcome, the case should prompt homeowners to check the credentials of the people they hire.

Hiring licensed contractors doesn’t ensure that you won’t be ripped off or that the work won’t be bungled. However, it’s easier to seek redress from licensed contractors than from unlicensed workers who might vanish tomorrow.

“We have more clout over licensed contractors,” said Lynette Blumehardt, a spokeswoman for the licensing board. “Most want to keep their licenses and be legitimate, legal business people. If they know their license is in jeopardy, they may comply more readily if found in violation of their contracts or of the law.”

Licensing also protects customers if accidents occur on their property. Licensed contractors must carry workers compensation insurance for their employees; otherwise, you and your insurance company might have to pay the medical bills of a roofer plunging onto your sidewalk.

Ask prospective contractors for their license numbers. A call to (800) 321-CSLB or a quick trip to www.cslb.ca.gov will reveal some rudimentary information--a contractor’s business address, the name of his insurer and whether his license is still valid. More can no doubt be revealed, but that’s a start.

Licensed contractors are not guaranteed to be good. And some unlicensed contractors do good work at good prices. It all depends on the chances you want to take.