Is it worth paying more for a fully insured contractor or just going with the cheaper uninsured guy?

IS IT WORTH PAYING MORE FOR A FULLY INSURED CONTRACTOR OR JUST GOING WITH THE CHEAPER UNINSURED GUY?

I get where you’re coming from, but I’ve actually had the opposite experience. Years ago, I hired a neighbor’s friend - no insurance, just word of mouth. He did solid work, and I saved a chunk. Maybe I just got lucky, but sometimes those smaller crews really care about their reputation in the neighborhood. Not saying it’s always the best move, but there are times when rolling the dice pays off... as long as you’re willing to take that risk.

Maybe I just got lucky, but sometimes those smaller crews really care about their reputation in the neighborhood.

I get what you’re saying, but honestly, luck isn’t a strategy I’m comfortable with - especially with big-ticket projects. When I built my place, I paid more for an insured contractor. It stung a bit up front, but knowing I wouldn’t be on the hook if someone got hurt or something went sideways was worth it. For small jobs, maybe it’s less of a risk, but for anything major, insurance gives me peace of mind.

Honestly, I’ve seen some of those “insured” guys do shoddy work too. Paperwork doesn’t always mean quality. I’d rather pay a smaller crew I trust - if they’ve got a solid rep and show up when they say they will, that counts for a lot in my book. Insurance is good, but it’s not the only thing that matters.

I get where you’re coming from. I once hired a guy who wasn’t insured but came highly recommended by neighbors. He did a great job, was super reliable, and actually cared about the work. Sometimes reputation just matters more than paperwork, at least for smaller jobs.

Sometimes reputation just matters more than paperwork, at least for smaller jobs.

I hear you - I've seen some fantastic work from folks without all the official boxes ticked. That said, I usually weigh a few things: scope of the project, risk involved, and who’s responsible if something goes sideways. For a small fence repair, I might lean on reputation. But for anything structural or involving permits, insurance gives me peace of mind. Had a client once who skipped the insured route for a deck build... ended up with a minor injury on site and it got messy fast. Just something to keep in mind when deciding how much risk you’re comfortable with.