06-05-2007, 10:04 AM
Aloha Puna Webbers,
My name is Shaun Perry, General Manager of SDG Contracting. I wanted to introduce myself because I know many of you have had terrible experiences with local contractors. I was born on Maui and moved to Puna in 1991. I’m a local boy, part Hawaiian, part Portuguese, part haole, just a regular melting pot of cultures. Having lived here my whole life and being in the construction field for 10 years, I have heard plenty of horror stories. Unfortunately, there are contractors out there that don’t play by the rules. So I’d like to offer some advice, if I may.
I encourage you to use licensed contractors to avoid the problems many of you have encountered. You can check out a business online at the Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs (DCCA) website at: www.hawaii.gov/dcca. Click on “On-line Services” and then on “Check out a business online”. You can do a business name search, license search, search complaint history or file a complaint, or GE tax license search. You can check to see that a contractor’s license is up to date and the company is in good standing. You can also view their general liability insurance and worker’s comp insurance carriers. If a contractor’s insurance is not up to date, their license will be suspended. This information is valuable when researching contractors as well as other businesses. Please be aware that the trade name may be different from the business name. For example, our business name is Superior Development Group, LLC and our trade name (or DBA) is SDG Contracting.
If a contractor says he’s licensed, ask to see the actual license or ID card. It will have the license #, type, expiration date, business name, address and their signature with State of Hawaii official seal. Then check them out on the DCCA website to make sure they’re in good standing. You can search by license # to make sure it’s a real # and it’s theirs.
Another good idea is to bond your project through one of the material houses (HPM, Honsador). Bonding doesn’t cost you anything and the bonding company guarantees your house will be finished if the contractor bails on you. It’s a win-win for client and contractor because it also guarantees the contractor gets paid for work done.
Good luck and buyer beware!
Mahalo,
Shaun Perry
My name is Shaun Perry, General Manager of SDG Contracting. I wanted to introduce myself because I know many of you have had terrible experiences with local contractors. I was born on Maui and moved to Puna in 1991. I’m a local boy, part Hawaiian, part Portuguese, part haole, just a regular melting pot of cultures. Having lived here my whole life and being in the construction field for 10 years, I have heard plenty of horror stories. Unfortunately, there are contractors out there that don’t play by the rules. So I’d like to offer some advice, if I may.
I encourage you to use licensed contractors to avoid the problems many of you have encountered. You can check out a business online at the Dept. of Commerce & Consumer Affairs (DCCA) website at: www.hawaii.gov/dcca. Click on “On-line Services” and then on “Check out a business online”. You can do a business name search, license search, search complaint history or file a complaint, or GE tax license search. You can check to see that a contractor’s license is up to date and the company is in good standing. You can also view their general liability insurance and worker’s comp insurance carriers. If a contractor’s insurance is not up to date, their license will be suspended. This information is valuable when researching contractors as well as other businesses. Please be aware that the trade name may be different from the business name. For example, our business name is Superior Development Group, LLC and our trade name (or DBA) is SDG Contracting.
If a contractor says he’s licensed, ask to see the actual license or ID card. It will have the license #, type, expiration date, business name, address and their signature with State of Hawaii official seal. Then check them out on the DCCA website to make sure they’re in good standing. You can search by license # to make sure it’s a real # and it’s theirs.
Another good idea is to bond your project through one of the material houses (HPM, Honsador). Bonding doesn’t cost you anything and the bonding company guarantees your house will be finished if the contractor bails on you. It’s a win-win for client and contractor because it also guarantees the contractor gets paid for work done.
Good luck and buyer beware!
Mahalo,
Shaun Perry