Questions to settle before you hire anyone
Plain answers about hiring a contractor in Simi Valley: the $1,000 handyman limit, owner-builder risk, mechanics liens, change orders and how to start.
These are the questions we hear most from Simi Valley homeowners before a project starts. Most of them come down to California rules that protect you whether or not you hire Aguila, so the answers point to the public source.
Questions that belong to a specific project type, such as an addition, a kitchen or a structural repair, are answered on that page. For bathrooms, ADUs and garage conversions, the dedicated Aguila sites have their own question lists.
Handyman or licensed contractor
Since January 1, 2025, Assembly Bill 2622 lets an unlicensed person take a job under $1,000, up from $500, but only if the work needs no permit of any kind and the person employs no one on the job. CSLB's bulletin is explicit: if a permit is required or a worker is hired, a license is required even under $1,000.
Additions, remodels, kitchens and structural repair all need permits, so they all need a licensed contractor regardless of size.
Change orders and extra work
Remodels change once walls open. The CSLB contract guide says change orders must be in writing, become part of the contract once signed, and must state the scope, the price and the effect on the payment schedule. A verbal agreement to add work is a common source of disputes between owners and contractors.
Protecting yourself from liens
Every home improvement contract in California must carry a mechanics lien warning. In plain terms: a subcontractor or supplier who is not paid can record a lien on your home even if you paid the prime contractor in full. Watch for 20-day Preliminary Notices, which are not liens themselves, and pay with a joint check to the contractor and the noticing party when that payment comes due.
Questions homeowners ask
Is a handyman allowed to do my project?
Only if the total is under $1,000, no permit is needed and the handyman works alone, under the AB 2622 rules effective January 1, 2025. Any permitted work needs a licensed contractor.
What is a 20-day Preliminary Notice?
A notice from a subcontractor or supplier saying it has the right to record a lien if it is not paid. It is not a lien. It can arrive up to 20 days after that party starts work or delivers material.
Do you work in Spanish?
Yes. This site is fully available in Spanish, and you can ask for the call and the written estimate in Spanish.
How do I start?
Call, text or send the form with a short description and your address. Paul calls back to set up a visit, and the written estimate follows the visit.
Do you work outside Simi Valley?
Yes, in Moorpark, Thousand Oaks, Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Chatsworth, Porter Ranch and Northridge. Permits there go through that city's or county's building department, with its own timelines and fees.
Sources
Facts on this page last verified: .
- CSLB Industry Bulletin #24-07 on AB 2622, December 31, 2024: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/IndustryBulletins/2024/AB%202622%20Implementation.FINAL.pdf (2026-10-05)
- CSLB, Contracting for Success: A Contractor's Guide to Home Improvement Contracts: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Resources/GuidesAndPublications/ContractingForSuccess.pdf (2026-10-05)
- CSLB, The Downside of Being an Owner-Builder: https://www.cslb.ca.gov/Consumers/Know_Risks_Of_Owner_-_Builder/The_Downside_Of_Being_An_Owner_-_Builder.aspx (2026-10-05)
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CSLB #925152 · B General Building Contractor