Five named storms in three years have left the Suncoast with plenty of damaged homes and, unfortunately, plenty of opportunities for construction fraud. That’s why the Charlotte-DeSoto Building Industry Association is hosting a free two-day event called “Show Me the License” at the fairgrounds, running Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Homeowners can meet licensed contractors, ask licensing and permitting questions, and get straight answers before hiring anyone.
The need is real. Donna Barrett, the association’s executive officer, compares your home to your body: you wouldn’t hire the cheapest cardiologist if you needed heart surgery. North Port neighbors like Mary Davis and Bernie and Rosemary Fox have shared stories of lost down payments and unfinished work, and the hardest part is often not being able to find the person who took the money when something goes wrong.
Can’t make it to the event? The association offers a free license verification service at 941-625-0804. One quick call tells you whether the contractor at your door is properly licensed before you sign anything or hand over a deposit.
Have you ever dealt with an unlicensed contractor, or do you have a tip for spotting one? Share your experience in the comments.
