You always want a licensed professional to insure quality of work. You need a local contractor who is familiar with your area/city building and safety codes. Some projects don’t require a permit and bigger projects do. Hiring a professional will insure that your investment in your home is maximized.
Call your township building department first and ask if you need permits or not for the type of work that you are doing, You can also ask your licensed contractor as well.
Do not hire a unlicensed contractor, you can end up loosing your money without have the right to fight for a claim in case something goes wrong.
Verify proof of Insurance its also very important, reviews or any complain filed on the company name.
license, insurance, worker comps no complains the the contractor board, references and talk to hes previous customers and go to see his previous projects as well
Licenses, insurance, ponds, exterior work means hight, staging & scaffolding, working over sidewalk. Liability, no chance to risk anything, nothing is worthy.