The wrong contractor costs more than money — it costs trust, time, and sometimes safety. The right one is worth waiting for. Here is how to tell them apart before anyone swings a hammer.
Check the license
Florida regulates contractors through the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). Ask for the license number and look it up on the state's website — it takes two minutes and tells you whether the license is current and whether complaints are on record. Unlicensed work voids your leverage if anything goes wrong.
Get it in writing — all of it
A real quote names the products (brand and model, not "walk-in tub"), lists the scope line by line, states the timeline, and explains payment terms. Vague quotes are where "surprises" live. Get at least two quotes and compare them line by line — we encourage this even when one of the quotes is ours.
Red flags
☐ Demands full payment upfront (deposits are normal; full prepayment is not). ☐ "Today only" pricing pressure. ☐ No physical presence — no address, no local references. ☐ Cannot name the products they will install. ☐ Dismisses permits ("we do not need those"). ☐ Badmouths every competitor instead of explaining their own work.
Green flags
☐ Shows up on time for the estimate. ☐ Listens more than pitches. ☐ Talks you out of things you do not need. ☐ Explains what could go wrong and how they handle it. ☐ Their crews are employees or long-term subs, not day labor. ☐ Cleanup and daily routine are part of the written plan.
Questions that reveal everything
Ask: "What happens if you find rot or damage behind the wall?" (Good answer: a clear change-order process, priced fairly.) "Who exactly will be in my home?" "How do you handle dust?" "What is your warranty, in writing?" The comfort of the answers matters as much as the content.
Ready for a safer bathroom?
Call (407) 434-9297 or send the form. Ask us about a remodeler who welcomes comparison — the safety visit and the written price are free, and there is never any pressure.