LICENSED AND INSURED: HIRING THE RIGHT IRRIGATION CONTRACTOR IN WEST PALM BEACH, FL

When finding the right irrigation contractor or sprinkler contractor in West Palm Beach in a time where technological resources and information are abundant, the selection process can become overwhelming. Where do you begin? It seems intuitive that you would desire an irrigation contractor that is both li-censed and insured. Af- ter all, you wouldn’t go to a doctor that is mediocre or with-out the proper credentials. In this article, our goal is to simplify the importance of qual- ity control and accountability through county and state li-

censure. We explore the cost of hiring a company that choses not to carry the appropriate insurance as regu-lated.

Contractor License Versus Occupational License

To conduct business in the State of Florida, every business is required to maintain an Occupa-tional License. This is the lowest standard requirement for any business to meet. An occupa-tional license DOES NOT mean that the company is entitled to identify as “Licensed and In-sured” on any marketing materials, fleet, or equipment. It DOES NOT mean that the company is a Licensed Irrigation Contractor. Confusion over distinguishing between Occupational Li-cense and Contractor License misled the public to such an extent the municipalities stopped re-ferring to the status as a license and now designate it asa “Business Tax.” To expound on the importance ofproper licensing implications, visit https://www.land-scapemanagement.net/licensed-to-landscape/

License Requirements

Certified and registered contractors are required to stayrelevant and knowledgeable through Certified EducationUnits (CEU) in order to maintain licensure status. Thisensures that your contractor is current on the ev-er-changing building codes and OSHA standards for Licensed Irrigation Contractors operating in

West Palm Beach, Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, Atlantis, Town of Gulf Stream, Lantana, Ocean Ridge, Boca Raton, and more. In order to learn more about license requirements, visit https://www.homeadvisor.com/r/state-by-state-licensing-requirements/ or https://www.contrac-torcampus.com/florida-building-contractor-license.html

Contractor Licenses Quality Control

The second step of due diligence on the customer’s part is to verify the contractor license under which the company is operating to verify that the name on the business cards are congruent with the licensee and that the status is active according to the state. You can easily check the authenticity and status of your contractor’s Florida state license here: https://www.myfloridali-cense.com/wl11.asp . County licenses for West Palm Beach, Martin, and Dade can be verified through county government website. Neglecting to verify licensure leaves you vulnerable to fraud, liability issues and financial risk, in addition to shoddy quality. https://www.mkpalaw.com/Beware-of-Unlicensed-Contractors.shtml. Efforts are being made in the state of Florida to counter fraudulent unlicensed contractors http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/crime/Pinellas-deputies-arrest-30-unlicensed-con-tractors-in-undercover-sting_170650909

A West Palm Beach County license in any industry (Painter, Electrician, Irrigation, Pool, etc.) provides that a company can only perform work in West Palm Beach where the license is held. That explains why you may see several license numbers advertised on a contractor vehicle as aseparate license is required for each county where sprinkler work is conducted. A state li-censed contractor is permitted to perform work throughout the state of Florida and is signified bythe letter “C” in front of the license number. CGC is a state authorized Certified General Contractor, CFC is Certified Plumbing Contractor, CPC is Certified Pool Contrac-tor, etc.

In- sured

Any company you hire MUST be insured. Commercial insurance is a three-legged

stool that includes

- General Liability Insurance- Vehicle Insurance- Worker’s Comp Insurance

The public is free to request proof of all three of these essential docu-

ments. A professional organization with nothing to hide is happy to provide proof of insurance in all three domains. As a consumer, veri-fy that the company is current and that the name on the business card is exactly the way it ap-pears on the insurance declaration page. Workers comp exempt is not proof of having workers comp insurance! Know the financial risks of saving a dollar on an uninsured company: if a worker is injured on your property without having workers compensation, you will be held liable in a court of law. https://www.allpropertymanagement.com/blog/post/the-danger-of-using-unli-censed-and-uninsured-contractors/

Beacon Irrigation & Lighting, Inc. D/B/A Beacon Building, Co.Licensed and Insured

If you choose Beacon Irrigation & Lighting, Inc. or Beacon Building, Co. as your licensed irriga-tion contractor, you are gaining the benefit of over 20 years of hands-on experience. This expe-rience has allowed us to determine the best products to endure against our harsh climate. We have streamlined the most efficient schedules and offer collaboration among a variety of trades. Our experience affords us an understanding of different soil types in our region that determine base layers for driveways and patios, along with plant choice and watering requirements. We are experts in the collection and dispersal of the water that falls during our epic storms. Our ex-pertise is held to the strictest industry regulations through proper, verifiable State licensure. Youcan rest assured knowing that we prioritize the protection of our clients’ assets by upholding the highest insurance standard. Don’t fall victim to the unlicensed contractors that are unable to complete projects or run away with deposits.

If you hire Beacon Irrigation & Lighting, Inc. or Beacon Building, Co., we are committed to complete customer satisfaction and have a long list of references and reviews available upon request. We would love to add you to our family of happy customers!