Beware Imposters Masquerading as Competent Licensed Contractors (Part 6 of 10)

Masked man masquerading as someone he is not serves as warning to homeowners to hire only actively licensed contractors.

Beware Imposters Masquerading as Competent Licensed Contractors (Part 6 of 10)

December 24, 2025General Contractor, Beware of Imposters without an active Contractor's License

Learn the many risks and hidden costs of hiring a lower-priced ‘imposter’ contractor who is NOT the equivalent of a competent, licensed contractor.

Imposter Contractor ≠ Competent Licensed Contractor

The average homeowner often doesn’t know how to spot an imposter masquerading as a licensed and competent contractor. They may think contracting with a respected, local handyman to do their kitchen remodel is just fine. After all, that handyman did a great job on installing some garage lighting and took care of fixing a leaky faucet. And, maybe – just maybe – using a handyman for a bathroom remodel won’t result in considerable problems for you. But are you really willing to risk serious home construction work on an unlicensed, unbonded, uninsured, and inadequately-qualified handyman?

In some communities, an imposter may have been around a long time with their company name becoming well known through their persistent advertising and community presence. This imposter contractor – regardless of how much the imposter may be entrenched within the community or how slick their advertising may be – is NOT an equivalent or sound replacement for a competent and actively licensed contractor.

Imposters can certainly appear legitimate. There’s nothing like a well done ad, business card, social media post, or postcard to make a business “appear” trustworthy. However, without a current California contractor’s license number listed on any of the marketing or sales materials, advertising, or website, you actually do have an obvious warning sign – and a BIG RED FLAG – that something is seriously amiss. Licensed contractors routinely post their contractor’s license number on any and all advertising, marketing, and sales materials.

Some imposter contractors, who just happen to be good marketers (or who have paid for good marketing and advertising), can have a following of unsuspecting clients who only rely upon “surface evidence” of the imposter’s construction efforts. These unsuspecting homeowners can end up referring business to the imposter. Those who innocently trust referrals to an imposter – without first checking for an active contractor’s license – can end up making a hiring decision that places them at considerable legal and financial risk.

The Many Risks of Working with An Imposter Contractor

Blocks with hands around them list the risks of working with an imposter, instead of Ed Neir, a licensed general contractor.

What if the imposter’s work is done incorrectly, and to far lower standards of construction? What if the Imposter fails to meet current building code? Can my home sell for less or be required to do replacement construction work prior to closing a sale? What if the imposter fails to employ proper construction techniques? What if the imposter lacks the necessary skill or cannot complete the project as promised?

Working with a contractor imposter can place a homeowner at far greater risk of legal ramifications, financial loss, and even physical danger should the structural integrity of the home be compromised by knocking out a load-bearing wall or making some other similarly risky construction error. Imagine having the plumbing in your new bathroom fail and the sewer back up into your new tub and overflow into other rooms. Or, consider what could happen if the wiring in your new kitchen was done improperly. Such a situation could potentially harm costly appliances or lead to an electrical fire. These are the painful and costly lessons experienced by homeowners who happened to choose an imposter rather than an actively licensed contractor.

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for imposters, or even some actively licensed contractors, to use day laborers, or a “cash-only” construction crew, without benefit of workers compensation insurance. When this happens, the homeowner is legally exposed and at serious risk should anyone be injured on the jobsite, and the construction workers are placed at risk without benefit of state-mandated insurance coverage.

Additionally, should a structural remodel be done by an imposter, it will be lacking in the necessary building permit. Only actively licensed general contractors are authorized to pull building permits on behalf of the homeowner.

This blog is part 6 of an important 10 part series that encourages homeowners to “Beware of Imposters.” This special blog series is focused on helping California homeowners identify and avoid unlicensed contractors, who we refer to as “imposters.”

Don’t be penny wise and pound foolish! For your own safety and financial security, contract solely with an actively licensed contractor. When you need an actively licensed, bonded, insured, and entirely accountable home construction expert, call Ed Neir Construction (license #:928715) at (707) 999-5878 (or text 408-368-7162) today for a free estimate.