• Natan Collodetti
• Blog, Construction
• April 7, 2026
• 0 Comments

Hiring a contractor in Southwest Florida is not the same as hiring one up north. Between hurricane building codes, high humidity, and a construction market full of unlicensed operators, homeowners in Fort Myers, Cape Coral, and Naples need to know exactly what to look for. Whether you need general contracting for a major project or a smaller renovation, these tips will help you find a reliable professional.

Verify the Contractor’s License

Florida requires general contractors to hold a state-issued license — either a Certified General Contractor (CGC) or Certified Building Contractor (CBC). You can verify any license on the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation website. Do not accept a local business tax receipt as proof of licensing. A business tax receipt is not the same as a contractor’s license, and this is one of the most common areas where homeowners get confused.

Confirm Insurance Coverage

At minimum, a Florida contractor should carry general liability insurance and workers’ compensation insurance. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance and call the insurance company directly to verify it is active. If a contractor does not carry workers’ comp and someone gets injured on your property, you could be held liable. This is not a minor detail — it is a financial risk you cannot afford to ignore.

Check for Local Experience

Construction in Southwest Florida comes with specific challenges. A contractor who has worked in the region understands the Florida Building Code requirements for wind mitigation, knows which materials hold up against salt air and UV exposure, and has relationships with local inspectors and suppliers. Ask how many projects they have completed in your area and request addresses of recent jobs you can drive by.

Get Multiple Written Estimates

Always collect at least three written estimates for any project over a few thousand dollars. Each estimate should include a detailed scope of work, a materials list, a timeline, payment schedule, and warranty information. Be cautious of any contractor who gives you a verbal quote or a one-page summary without itemized details. You can learn more about what a thorough estimate includes on our services page.

Read Reviews and Ask for References

Online reviews on Google, the Better Business Bureau, and Houzz can reveal patterns — both good and bad. But do not stop there. Ask the contractor for three to five recent references and actually call them. Ask about communication, timeline accuracy, how change orders were handled, and whether the homeowner would hire them again.

Red Flags to Watch For

• Asking for more than 10 percent down before work starts
• No written contract or vague scope of work
• Pressure to sign immediately or claims the price expires today
• Cannot provide license number or insurance certificate
• No physical office or business address
• Wants to pull the permit under your name instead of theirs

Understand the Permit Process

Most renovation work in Lee County and Collier County requires a building permit. Your contractor should pull the permit under their license and schedule all required inspections. If a contractor suggests skipping the permit, that is a major red flag. Unpermitted work can cause problems when you sell your home and may void your homeowner’s insurance coverage.

Finding the right contractor takes a little homework, but it saves you from costly problems down the road. Alliance Construction is a licensed general contractor (CBC1268590) serving Fort Myers and all of Southwest Florida. Call (239) 244-4341 to discuss your project with a team that values transparency and quality workmanship.

About the Author

Natan Collodetti

Natan Collodetti is the Owner of Alliance Construction & Renovation, a licensed general contractor (CBC1268590) serving Fort Myers and Southwest Florida. With hands-on experience in kitchen remodeling, bathroom renovations, and whole-home transformations, Natan leads a team dedicated to quality craftsmanship and transparent communication. Alliance Construction operates from their Fort Myers showroom at 11751 Metro Pkwy STE 1. PHP: 2026-02-14 20:47:37 [notice X 0][/home/alliancecon/public_html/staging/wp-content/plugins/elementor/core/experiments/manager.php::132] version_compare(): Passing null to parameter #2 ($version2) of type string is deprecated [array ( 'trace' => ' #0: Elementor\Core\Logger\Manager -> shutdown() ', )]