How to Choose the Right Contractor for Your Property
The right contractor protects your investment. The wrong one costs you time, money, and trust. Here are the five things to look for before you sign anything.
Jovanny Quiñonez
Founder and Licensed Contractor, PMR Projects
Hiring a contractor is one of the most important decisions you will make as a property manager or homeowner. The right contractor protects your investment. The wrong one costs you time, money, and trust. After 7+ years serving Long Beach, Signal Hill, and Southern California, here is what we have learned separates a professional contractor from a costly mistake.
Verify Their License
In California, contractors are required to hold a valid license through the Contractors State License Board (CSLB). Before signing anything, look up their license number at cslb.ca.gov. This confirms they are legally authorized to work in your state and that they have met the training and testing requirements.
PMR Projects CSLB License: #1114198
Confirm They Are Properly Insured
Licensing is just the start. A reputable contractor should carry general liability insurance (covers property damage during the job) and workers' compensation insurance (protects you if a worker is injured on your property). When a contractor says they are “insured,” ask specifically what type of insurance they carry.
Always ask for a certificate of insurance before work begins. If a contractor hesitates to provide one, walk away.
What to ask for: General liability insurance and workers' compensation certificates before any work begins. PMR Projects carries both on every job.
Get a Detailed Written Scope
Vague estimates are how surprise charges happen. A professional contractor should provide a clear, itemized scope of work before any project starts. This should include specific materials and quantities, labor breakdown, project timeline, and payment schedule.
Project-based pricing, not hourly, gives you budget certainty from day one. That is how we operate at PMR Projects.
Red flag: If a contractor gives you a verbal-only estimate or a one-line quote with no breakdown, keep looking.
Check Reviews and References
Look beyond the star rating. Read the actual reviews and look for patterns. Do they communicate throughout the project? Do they finish on time and on budget? Do they leave job sites clean? How do they handle problems when they come up?
PMR Projects has 100+ five-star Google reviews, built one job at a time.
Pro tip: Ask the contractor for references from recent projects similar to yours. A confident contractor will have no problem providing them.
Ask About Their Workmanship Warranty
A contractor who stands behind their work will offer a written warranty. At PMR Projects, we offer a 1-year workmanship warranty on rental properties and a 1 to 2 year workmanship warranty for homeowners.
If a contractor cannot tell you their warranty terms, that is a red flag.
What to expect: A written warranty that clearly states what is covered, for how long, and how to make a claim.
Bonus: Look for a Long-Term Partner
The best contractor relationships are built over time. If you are a property manager handling multiple units, you need a contractor who understands your workflow, communicates clearly, and shows up consistently. That is the difference between a handyman and a structured service partner.
The Bottom Line
Choosing the right contractor comes down to five things: a valid license, proper insurance (liability and workers' comp), a detailed written scope, strong reviews, and a clear warranty. If a contractor checks all five boxes, you are in good hands.
At PMR Projects, we have built our reputation on doing exactly what we say we will do. We are licensed and insured with liability and workers' compensation coverage. We provide project-based pricing with detailed scopes. And we stand behind every job with a written workmanship warranty.
Jovanny Quiñonez
Founder and Licensed Contractor, PMR Projects
Jovanny co-founded PMR Projects in 2018 with his brother Alex. Licensed and insured (CSLB #1114198), PMR Projects serves property managers and homeowners across Southern California with a structured, accountable approach to maintenance and renovation.
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