Five named storms in three years have kept construction crews busy across Southwest Florida, and scammers have been just as busy. That’s why the Charlotte-DeSoto Building Industry Association hosted its “Show Me the License” home building and remodeling show at the Port Charlotte fairgrounds, a free event connecting homeowners with licensed contractors and local agencies.
The format is refreshingly simple. You walk in, you meet licensed professionals, and you ask the questions most of us only think of after something goes wrong. How do I verify a license? What does the permitting process look like? What should be in a written contract? Organizers say education is the entire point, and it comes as building prices keep climbing and storm recovery drags on. Donna Barrett, the association’s executive officer, offered a comparison that stuck with us: think of your home like your body, because you wouldn’t hire the cheapest cardiologist if you needed heart surgery.
The complaints driving this event are painfully familiar to anyone who’s been through storm season here: down payments made, contractors gone, work that doesn’t hold up. Neighbors in North Port have lived through exactly that. The good news is that most local contractors are honest, and events like this make it easier to tell the difference before money changes hands.
Have you ever hired a contractor after a storm? What did you learn from the experience? Let us know in the comments.
