Look the builder up on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries contractor lookup, which shows license status, bond and insurance. It takes about thirty seconds and almost nobody does it. Then ask to speak with past clients rather than accepting a printed list of names.

The short version

  • Every contractor operating in Washington is registered with L&I. The record is public.
  • The lookup shows license status, bond amount and insurance coverage.
  • Washington’s minimum contractor bond is $12,000. Anasazi carries $30,000.
  • Anasazi’s license number is ANASABL825RL, published on the site with a verification link.
  • A license is a minimum requirement, not a recommendation.
  • References are worth more when you choose who to call.

How do you check a Washington contractor’s license?

Search the Labor & Industries contractor lookup using the company name, license number or UBI number. The record shows whether the registration is active, the bond in place, and the liability insurance on file. Anasazi is registered as a general contractor under CC01, license ANASABL825RL, UBI 604368477, and the company links directly to its own L&I record.

Do this for every builder on your list, including the one you already like.

What you are checking for is straightforward: an active registration, a current bond, and current insurance. An expired or suspended registration is a full stop rather than a detail to work around.

The bond amount is worth reading rather than glancing at. Washington’s minimum for a general contractor is $12,000, and a builder can choose to carry more. Anasazi’s is $30,000. The minimum tells you a requirement was met. A higher figure tells you something was chosen.

Keep the result in perspective. A valid license means the builder met the state’s minimum requirement to operate. It says nothing about whether he finishes on time or answers his phone.

What experience should a custom home builder have?

John and Stephen Worlund at an Anasazi Builders homesite
Experienced oversight connects the early decisions with what happens on the job site.

What else can you verify before you sign?

Professional memberships and third party accreditations, which are quick to confirm. Anasazi belongs to the Home Builders Association of Tri-Cities, affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders, and holds BBB accreditation.

Insurance deserves a separate question rather than a checkbox. Ask what general liability coverage the builder carries and who insures the home while it is under construction, since that is not always the same policy or the same party.

Ask about lien waivers too. Your bank will require them on anything over $5,000. Subcontractors sign a partial waiver when paid and a final waiver at completion, which prevents a trade from placing a lien on your finished home over a dispute you were never part of.

How should you handle references?

Ask to speak with past clients rather than accepting a curated list. Anasazi has referrals from previous homeowners and from contractors, and if you want to speak with some of them, you ask and they connect you. Past clients frequently offer to walk prospective buyers through their finished homes.

That last part matters. Seeing a house and questioning the person who lives in it are two different kinds of evidence, and you want both.

Some builders will also hand over subcontractor contacts. Trades who have worked with a builder for years know things clients never see, including whether they get paid on time, which predicts whether they will show up for your job.

Anasazi’s completed work is here if you want somewhere to start the conversation.

Finished Anasazi Builders custom home in Benton County
A finished home is the result of documented scope, coordinated trades, and consistent follow-through.

What should you actually ask a reference?

Ask about the parts a finished house cannot show you. Did he return calls. What happened when something went wrong. Did the schedule hold, and if not, were you told early. Was the job site clean. How did the warranty period go. Would you build with him again.

The last question is the one people answer honestly, and the pause before the answer is informative.

If a builder cannot produce anyone to call, that is itself the answer. John Worlund’s threshold for walking away is any response that does not make sense, and evasiveness about references qualifies.

Red flags to avoid when hiring a custom home builder

Common questions about verifying a builder

What if a builder is not registered with L&I?

Do not proceed. Registration is a legal requirement to contract in Washington.

Does a bond protect me if something goes wrong?

It provides limited recourse and is modest relative to the cost of a home, so treat it as a baseline. The amount is still worth checking: Washington’s minimum is $12,000 and Anasazi carries $30,000.

How recent should references be?

A mix helps. Recent clients tell you about the current team. Clients from several years back tell you how the warranty period and the relationship actually went.

Should I check reviews too?

Yes, alongside the license and references rather than instead of them. Read what reviewers describe rather than counting stars.

Can I verify a builder’s insurance directly?

Ask for a certificate of insurance. The insurer can confirm it is current.

Verification is the cheapest part of this process and the one most often skipped. If Anasazi is on your list, the license number is published on the About page with a direct link to the state record, and the first conversation is free. You can also read how the build process runs.

Related: How to hire a custom home builder · Custom home builder portfolio: what to look for

Completed Anasazi Builders custom kitchen in the Tri-Cities
The details homeowners can see depend on many decisions made long before final installation.