20 unlicensed contractors arrested in sting operation.

Sarasota County Sheriff’s office recently arrested 20 unlicensed contractors in operation freelancer sting.

Undercover detectives called various contractors and asked them to show up to a residence and quote a job.  As the contractors showed up, the DBPR database was checked to determine if they had a license.

Not only were these contractors unlicensed – but out of 20 contractors – 13 had prior criminal histories with a total of  91 prior felony charges and 89 prior misdemeanor charges.  A couple of the contractors showed up in possession of illegal substances, and 2 more were driving with suspended licenses.

This serves to illustrate that if you hire an unlicensed contractor you probably have at least a 50% chance of hiring a criminal.

Consumers can verify licenses with the DBPR online at www.myfloridalicense.com, by calling 850-487-1395, or downloading the free DBPR Mobile app through iTunes or the Google Play store.

Sean McCutcheon’s Air Conditioning and Heating is not only licensed and insured, but we use third party verification by Ask the Seal. Our employees are drug tested and have complete nationwide background checks on a regular basis. 

Visit our website: KeepingSarasotaCool.com


Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2014/11/18/5481868_sarasota-deputies-arrest-20-in.html?rh=1#storylink=cpy

What Company Should You Hire To Install Your New Air Conditioning System?

When it’s time to purchase a new air conditioning system for your Sarasota home, you should always shop for quality first and price second.

You will find that comparable equipment is close to the same price, but one of the ways some HVAC companies can appear to offer products and services for less is by cutting corners and making up the difference where they can.  This is why it is very important to choose the right contractor for the job, and this goes for any trade – HVAC, electrical, plumbing, construction, etc.

The majority of Air Conditioning companies try to be honest, but many of them simply do not have the ongoing training or business systems in place to properly serve their customers. It is well worth it to make the effort to find an air conditioning company that is ethical, keeps their employees well trained, and makes customer service a priority.

Heating and air conditioning is the most complex home service trade. You cannot risk having an amateur or a dishonest contractor install your new equipment.

Some of the things to look for when choosing a contractor are:

•    Can they provide you with copies of licenses and certification
•    Have they been in business a while – and can they provide you with references?
•    Do they carry liability and workers comp. insurance?

Never hire a contractor who can quote a price over the phone or will offer to replace your old equipment with the same size unit without doing any measurements, inspections or diagnostic tests.   A good contractor will ask a lot of questions before they go ahead and just give you a quote.  They will also explain different options and help you choose the right system for your home and your budget.

Sometimes there can be a temptation to try and save money by hiring people who do “work on the side” usually nights and weekends. Anyone who does side work will not be licensed and there is a very good chance that they do not have liability insurance or workers compensation insurance.

These Unlicensed contractors hurt both you and proper contractors because they will often underbid licensed professionals and almost always perform substandard work since they typically do not have the appropriate education or qualification.  Sometimes they even have criminal backgrounds.  Also, if they fail to pay any subcontractors – you could also be subject to liens placed on your property. 

Is saving a few bucks really worth the risk? 

For more information please visit our site: www.keepingsarasotacool.com

#sarasotaairconditioning #sarasotahvac #keepingsarasotacool

Always Make Sure You Hire A Licensed Air Conditioning Contractor

Here in Sarasota we have a huge problem with unlicensed contractors. 

The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office has been cracking down on these contractors who do substandard work, or even take your money and do no work at all.

Unfortunately, some people are tempted to try and save money by hiring unlicensed contractors.

If you think there is nothing wrong with hiring an unlicensed contractor, you should know that installations performed by an unlicensed contractor will void the manufacturer's warranty so you could be spending thousands of dollars on a unit that is not covered if it fails.

In addition to that, hiring an unlicensed contractor is a violation of Florida Statute 455.228 which can result in a civil penalty of up to $5,000 for the home or business owner and you could be liable for the court costs on top of that.

These tips from the Sarasota County Building department can protect you from predatory contractors:

•   Get a signed, detailed contract that spells out the work to be done, when, and for how much.
•   Ask for local references and check them.
•   Verify the company's reputation with organizations such as the Chamber of Commerce.
•   Ask to see the contractor's license and verify its status. To check a Sarasota County license call 861-6126.
•   Do not make a large down payment and do not pay in full until the work is complete.

For more information on how to choose a contractor – click here to download a checklist.

If you are in need os air conditioning and heating replacement or repair, please call Sean McCutcheon's Air Conditioning and Heating, Inc.  And if you decide to call another company, please protect yourself and do your due diligence.

Click here to schedule HVAC service