# How Arizona’s Most Wanted Contractor Got Caught, and How to Check Any Contractor Before You Hire

- Link: https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/check-arizona-contractor-license-roc/
- Published: 2026-10-25T03:44:52+00:00
- Author: homeinspectordan

This one is not a home inspection, but it is a story I have to tell, and it comes
with a lesson for every homeowner.

## What happened

I was driving home on the interstate one night when a pickup truck slammed into 
the back of another car, which spun into me. The pickup did a loop in the gravel,
got back on the freeway and took off. Thankfully a witness chased him down, and 
the Highway Patrol caught up with him near Mesa. The other driver was shaken up.
I was able to drive home.

When we looked up the driver’s name afterward, it matched a contractor on the Arizona
Registrar of Contractors most wanted list, someone who had reportedly taken more
than $400,000 from clients. A random crash ended up helping bring him in.

## How to check a contractor in Arizona

Most contractors are honest and do good work. But before you hand anyone a deposit
for a roof, remodel, pool or repair, take five minutes:

 * **Look up the license.** The [Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC)](https://roc.az.gov/)
   has a free license search. Confirm the license is active and covers the type 
   of work you are hiring for.
 * **Check complaints and discipline.** The ROC lookup shows complaint history and
   any license actions.
 * **Get it in writing.** A written contract with the scope of work, price, payment
   schedule and the license number.
 * **Do not pay big money up front.** Pay as work is completed, not before it starts.
 * **Be careful with “handyman” pricing on big jobs.** In Arizona, there are limits
   on the jobs an unlicensed handyman can legally take on. Homeowners who hire licensed
   residential contractors may also be able to file a claim with the ROC’s Residential
   Contractors’ Recovery Fund if the work goes bad. That protection does not exist
   with an unlicensed worker.

## Where a home inspector fits in

I see the results of bad contractors every week: roofs that were “repaired” with
paint, unpermitted additions and flips with hidden problems. If a seller tells you
something was repaired, ask who did it and get the invoice. Then have your inspector
look. See [a roof repair that was really just paint](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/roof-repair-second-opinion-painted-tiles/)
and [the worst home flip I have inspected](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/worst-home-flip-inspection/).

## Honest inspections in Gilbert and across Arizona

Property Inspections Plus works for you, the buyer. I do not sell repairs, so there
is no reason to find problems that are not there or skip the ones that are. If a
seller makes repairs after your inspection, a [reinspection](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/home-reinspection-after-repairs-arizona/)
confirms the work was done. Every home inspection includes a [termite (WDO) inspection](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/termite-inspection/)
at no extra charge, plus a 1-year termite warranty through [Firehouse Pest Control in Gilbert](https://firehousepest.com/services/termite-treatment/)
if no active termites are found.

**Buying a home?** [Book your inspection online](https://app.spectora.com/home-inspectors/my-inspection-company-f8d6dbae4e/schedule)
or call [623-399-0079](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/check-arizona-contractor-license-roc/6233990079).

Property Inspections Plus is a [Gilbert, AZ home inspection](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/)
company led by Certified Master Inspector Dan Pierce. We inspect homes across the
East Valley, the Phoenix metro and the rest of Arizona. See all of our [service areas](https://propertyinspectionsplus.com/service-areas/).