Washington Plumbing Contractor Package

L&I is a diverse state agency dedicated to the safety, health, and security of Washington's 3.3 million workers. We help employers meet safety and health standards, and we inspect workplaces when alerted to hazards.

You shouldn't pay more than 10 percent of the estimated contract price upfront, according to the Contractors State License Board.

Estimates, generally, must be professionally reasonable. A 10-20% overage might be considered reasonable, especially if the contractor discovered issues along the way that he couldn't have been aware of initially (for example, mold or flooding).

Be sure you need a contractor's license. Register your business with the WA Secretary of State. Register with the Department of Revenue. Get an EIN Number. Get bonded. Obtain proof of insurance. Submit your application.

General contractors can perform most types of construction work.However, contractors working with plumbing, electrical, elevators, mobile home installation, boilers, and asbestos have additional requirements for education, examination, and licensing.

Avoid companies that require an upfront deposit of more than 10 percent. Try to include language in the contract that holds back a percentage of the total price, called a retainage, until you're sure the work was done well. A 10 percent retainage is common for residential remodeling work.

If the contractor requests a large sum of money before work has begun, Mozen says you should ask specifically what types of work or materials those payments are covering.Contractors sometimes have other motives, other than purchasing materials, when they ask for large amounts of money in advance, Fowler says.

L&I is the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries. It is a quasi insurance system covering workers hurt on the job. Benefits include medical care, time loss compensation, permanent partial disability, vocational rehabilitation, pensions, and other payments.

A: It's not uncommon for contractors to ask for a down payment up front to secure your spot on their schedule or purchase some of the job materials in advance. Asking for more than half of the project cost up front, though, is a big red flag.I recommend tying payments to progress made during the job.