FLORIDA CONNECT · HOMEOWNER GUIDES
By Florida Connect · Updated November 3, 2026
Quick answer: Define your project, compare written estimates, verify the credentials required for the work, and agree on scope and payment milestones before the job begins. A directory profile is a starting point—not proof that a contractor is qualified for your specific project.
Write down the work you want, your city, your preferred timing, and what a successful result looks like. Separate essential repairs from optional upgrades. For example, “replace damaged bathroom tile” is a different scope from “remodel the entire bathroom.” Share the same brief with every business you contact.
Ask whether the contractor has completed similar projects in Palm Beach, Broward, or Miami-Dade. Request examples that match your property type and project size. Ask who will manage the job and who will answer your questions during construction.
Check the applicable license with Florida DBPR and, where relevant, the local licensing authority. Match the business and individual names to the people providing your estimate. Ask for proof of insurance and confirm that coverage is current. Ask the local building department which permits and inspections apply to your project.
Request itemized written estimates. Review materials, labor, exclusions, timing, and payment terms. If a price is unusually low, ask what is missing. Put agreed changes in writing so both sides understand the revised work and cost.
Who is my day-to-day contact?
What is included, and what is excluded?
How will changes be priced and approved?
Who handles permits and inspection coordination?
What documents will I receive at completion?
No. Independently verify credentials, insurance, references, and project fit. A paid placement is not a licensing endorsement.
Compare the scope first. A lower price may reflect different materials, fewer tasks, or allowances that could change later.
Search Florida Connect by service or city, then use this checklist when contacting businesses.
Sources: Florida Attorney General: Contractors; FTC: Avoid a Home Improvement Scam. General planning guidance; confirm requirements for your project with the relevant authority.