How can you perform a background check on a contractor for free?

To check a contractor's background for free, contact both the local Better Business Bureau and the local Department of Consumer Protections. SimplyAdditions.com provides a list of Web addresses and telephone numbers for the BBB and DPC for each state.

Require prospective contractors to produce current certificates of general liability insurance. Call the city building department to verify that the contractor has a valid contractor's license and current registration, and call or perform an online lien search with the clerk of courts to determine whether any liens are outstanding against the contractor. Additional free ways to check a contractor's background include interviewing clients who have hired the contractor and subcontractors who have worked for the contractor.