Before You Hire
Good contractors welcome good questions.
Whether your contractor comes highly recommended or you're comparing bids from companies you've just met, a major project deserves standard owner diligence: a license that fits the work, proposals you fully understand, and clear responsibility for permits. Luxona helps homeowners know what to confirm before committing.
What You See. What We Check. Why It Matters.
Even with an established contractor and a strong proposal, there are details most homeowners wouldn't know to evaluate — not because anything is wrong, but because construction is complicated. A $40,000 project raises many of the same licensing, contract, scope, and payment questions as a $400,000 project. The dollars may be different. The need for clarity isn't. Here's what that looks like in practice.
Scenario 1 — Licensing
What You See
A company advertises itself as a "Florida Certified General Contractor" and displays a Florida license number.
What We Check
The public license record, the license classification, who holds the license, and whether the credential appears to match the claim and proposed work.
Why It Matters
A valid license number alone does not tell a homeowner what classification the contractor holds or whether that classification appears to fit the proposed work.
The Luxona Difference
We do not stop at "licensed." We help the homeowner understand what the available records actually show and what should be confirmed before moving forward.
Scenario 2 — The Lower Bid
What You See
One contractor's proposal is $18,000 lower than another's.
What We Check
Scope, allowances, exclusions, alternates, quantities, owner-supplied items, permit assumptions, and work included in each proposal.
Why It Matters
The lower number may not represent a lower price for the same project. It may represent less scope.
The Luxona Difference
We compare what each contractor is actually proposing — not just the number at the bottom of the page.
Scenario 3 — Specialty Trades
What You See
A construction company advertises roofing, electrical, HVAC, plumbing, or other specialty work.
What We Check
Available licensing information, permit responsibility, the contracting structure, and who is expected to perform or subcontract the regulated work.
Why It Matters
A company's primary construction credential does not automatically answer every licensing question associated with every specialty trade.
The Luxona Difference
We help identify what should be verified before the homeowner authorizes the work.
How Is the Contracting Set Up?
The company on your contract matters.
Prime contractors, subcontractors, LLC registrations, and license classifications are separate questions, and proposals don't always make the structure clear. Luxona reviews how the contracting is structured before you sign, helping you understand who is responsible for what from the start.
What Luxona Reviews Before You Commit
The Contractor
- Contractor license classification and current status
- Who holds the license and qualifies the business
- The business entity named on the proposal and contract
- Whether the license scope fits the proposed work
- Available complaint and disciplinary history
- Certificates of insurance and coverage
- Permit responsibility
- Specialty-trade licensing where applicable
The Proposal & Project
- Scope, assumptions, allowances, exclusions, and alternates
- Payment milestones, deposits, and change-order procedures
- Schedule assumptions and unresolved owner decisions
- Closeout: warranties, lien releases, and final permit closeout
Free Download
Before You Sign: the one-page homeowner checklist
Seven things to check before you sign a remodeling or construction contract, from deposits and payment schedules to liens and closeout. Tell us where to send it and you'll get instant access.
You do not need to become a construction expert. You need one on your side.
Stay focused on the decisions that matter without having to personally research and track every project detail.
Evaluate the contractor’s credentials, the proposal, and the project with better information — before and during construction.