Looking for a contractor can have risks at some point. However, taking the right steps can help you avoid these risks. I have worked with them for several years, so I will recommend following the 3 steps below as closely as possible so as to avoid losing your money and effort.
Claiming that the worker is bonded is not the basis to hire him. You need to conduct interview and look for his certificates. Review these document carefully, check the papers if they are authenticated. Place his paper on file along with the stubs from the checks that you issued to him. This is to avoid financial problems that may happen if he does damage to his job site.
Secondly, check if he is insured. Contractors who want to work should have insurance coverage as part of their benefits. He needs to present you the payment records from his previous employer to see that his insurance is still active. In case his insurance is not active anymore and he gets wounded during his work, you will be held responsible for it. And it could be very costly. This can smash your business in terms of the financial aspects.
However, it's not enough for your contractors to have his insurance only. He must have the insurance protecting you and your customer from any responsibility. The insurance should depend on the kind of work he will perform. If it is to be done in a high risk environment, then his insurance will cover high amount for possible damage or accident.
Thirdly, you need to have a background check about his past. This will cover his previous employment, debt report, as well as criminal report. You can do this without spending too much money and you can find the results with a click on the internet. This is one way to protect you from many workers who had bad records in the past.
Fred Arthur blogs about science. To get bonus regarding other projects he is fascinated by, click on NJ solar rebate and NJ Solar Power.