- Bathroom RemodelingTubs, vanities, tile and fixtures
- Showers & Glass DoorsWalk-in showers, benches and glass doors
- Niches & Accent TileShower niches, mosaics and borders
- Kitchen RemodelingBacksplashes, floors and full kitchens
- Tile FloorsKitchens, baths, entries and patterns
- Custom Tile WorkPatterns, borders and one-off details
- PaintingWalls, ceilings, trim and doors
- CarpentryTrim, doors, framing and built-ins
- Full RemodelsEvery room, start to finish
- Outdoor PatiosStone and tile patios
How to check a contractor in Massachusetts.
The registration, the contract, the permits and the lead rules, before anyone starts.
Updated November 2026. The sources are at the end of the page.
The short answer
Five checks, about ten minutes.
Before you hire: look up the contractor's Massachusetts home improvement registration (HIC), make sure the number is on the written contract, get the contract in writing with the work, dates and payment schedule, confirm the contractor pulls the permits, and for a house built before 1978, confirm the firm is certified for lead-safe work.
1. The registration
Look up the HIC number.
A contractor doing residential work on an owner occupied home of one to four units must be registered with the state, and working or advertising without a registration is prohibited. The state's HIC lookup is linked from the Peabody Building Inspectors page. Search by name or number and check that it is current.
Ours is HIC #655031.
2. The contract
In writing, with no blanks.
For a job over $1,000 the law requires a written contract with the registration number, the start and completion dates, the work and materials, the total price and a payment schedule. The deposit cannot be more than one third of the price, or the cost of special order materials if that is higher. Our guide on what the contract must say has the full list.
3. The permits
Who pulls them.
The contract must say which permits the job needs and that the contractor gets them. Be careful with "it will be cheaper if you pull the permit": a homeowner who pulls their own permit is not covered by the state Guaranty Fund.
4. Older homes
Lead-safe work before 1978.
Anyone paid to disturb paint in a home built before 1978 must be certified for lead-safe work under the federal rule, and Massachusetts runs its own licensing for it. Ask before demo, and expect the Renovate Right pamphlet before work starts. More in our lead paint guide.
5. The work itself
Photos, reviews and a visit.
Ask for photos of finished jobs like yours, read the reviews, and get a quote visit at your home. A written estimate after the visit is the first sign of how the rest of the job will be documented.
Questions
What homeowners ask before hiring.
How do I check a contractor's license in Massachusetts?
Look up their home improvement contractor (HIC) registration in the state's HIC lookup, linked from the Peabody Building Inspectors page, and check that the number on the contract matches.
Does a contractor have to be registered in Massachusetts?
Yes, for residential contracting on an owner occupied home of one to four units. Working or advertising without a registration is prohibited under M.G.L. c.142A.
What protection do I have if a registered contractor does not finish?
A written contract and, after a court judgment or arbitration award the contractor does not pay, the state Guaranty Fund, which can repay actual losses up to $25,000 per claim.
Should the contractor or I pull the permit?
The contractor. Under Massachusetts law a homeowner who pulls their own permit is not covered by the Guaranty Fund.
What is Becker General Services' registration number?
HIC #655031.
Sources
Where these answers come from.
Official pages first. Rules change: check the source, or ask us at the quote visit.
- M.G.L. c.142A, section 17: prohibited acts, including working or advertising without registration
- M.G.L. c.142A, section 2: requirements of home improvement contracts
- 201 CMR 14.21: Guaranty Fund payments
- City of Peabody, Building Inspectors
- U.S. EPA, Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting Program
Last checked November 2026.
Keep going
Keep reading.
Costs, the service itself and the other guides.
Let’s build it.
Tell us about the job. We answer right away and book the visit.
Tell us about the job. We answer right away and book the visit.
Let’s build it.
Let’s build it.
Let’s build it.
Let’s build it.
Let’s build it.
Tell us about the job. We answer right away and book the visit.
Projects
Start to finish.
01 SaugusAn attic turned into a living floorAn open attic became a bright floor with a full bathroom, a window seat and a new oak stair.- 02 SalemA whole house in Salem, made newThree floors, two bathrooms, a new kitchen, new stairs and oak floors everywhere. One crew, one schedule, one number to call.
03 Manchester-by-the-SeaA walk-in shower in Manchester-by-the-SeaAn old tub alcove taken to the studs and built back as a walk-in shower with a glass door, a mosaic floor and two niches.
