RMO World

We found this to be an interesting story. Builders are increasingly turning away from concrete and steel in favor of wood. In some cases, the material – known as mass timber – is even being used to construct skyscrapers. It’s becoming a sort of revolution.

Are wooden skyscrapers the future? What do you think?

Got a successful RMO-Contractor relationship? Meet for lunch, share your story & tips of good RMO practices, send us a video and lunch is on us!

Details apply, terms are stated below and at the end of the video.

Terms: Send the link to your video to:
Story@RMOAgency.com

Receipt required to redeem payment. Payment to be equal to receipt presented or $50, whichever is less. Compensation to be made in the form of a Visa or MC Gift Card. Video Must be 2-5 minutes in length. One submission per person per calendar month. By submitting, you attest the story you share is yours and accurate to the best of your recollection. By submitting you are allowing RMO Agency to use your video for promotional purposes without any further compensation to you or anyone else involved. RMO Agency reserves the right to determine if submissions are appropriate and useable, any submission determined inappropriate or unusable, will not be compensated. 

Please contact us with any questions at:
Email hello@rmoagency.com
Call 800-818-4962.

Congratulations to our recent graduates:

• D’ARCO Inc
• Attica Green Solution Inc
• Fog City Construction
• Rooter John Co

In this episode, Rowdy needs some help and his RMO from RMO Agency comes to the rescue. If you need an RMO to get you licensed and help you out, call us, and we’ll take care of it all.

In this video taken from our holiday Zoom party in December, one of our RMOs, Cynthia shares her experience with RMO Agency. Whether you want to be an RMO or need your license fast, call us today 800-818-4962 ext. 101 Or email: hello@rmoagency.com

Got a successful RMO-Contractor relationship? Meet for lunch, share your story & tips of good RMO practices, send us a video and lunch is on us!

Details apply, terms are stated below and at the end of the video.

Terms: Send the link to your video to:
Story@RMOAgency.com

Receipt required to redeem payment. Payment to be equal to receipt presented or $50, whichever is less. Compensation to be made in the form of a Visa or MC Gift Card. Video Must be 2-5 minutes in length. One submission per person per calendar month. By submitting, you attest the story you share is yours and accurate to the best of your recollection. By submitting you are allowing RMO Agency to use your video for promotional purposes without any further compensation to you or anyone else involved. RMO Agency reserves the right to determine if submissions are appropriate and useable, any submission determined inappropriate or unusable, will not be compensated. 

Please contact us with any questions at:
Email hello@rmoagency.com
Call 800-818-4962.

Congratulations to our recent graduates:

• Iron Roots
• ABC Home Builders
• Evergreen Builders Group
• R Sanchez

In this video taken from our holiday Zoom party in December, one of our RMOs, Thomas shares his experience with RMO Agency. Whether you want to be an RMO or need your license fast, call us today 800-818-4962 ext. 101 Or email: hello@rmoagency.com

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has issued a consumer alert warning Californians to beware of fake and unlicensed contractors soliciting their services to Californians affected by damage from the recent winter storms.

In this alert, Attorney General Bonta urges Californians to take precautions by hiring only licensed contractors and reminds businesses that price gouging during a state of emergency is illegal under Penal Code Section 396. As noted by the Contractors State License Board (CSLB), anyone who contracts for work in a state or federal natural disaster area without an active state contractor license may be subject to felony charges.

“As Californians recover from the devastating storms, the last thing they should worry about is being scammed by bad actors,” said Attorney General Bonta. “We will not tolerate those who take advantage of consumers during this time of struggle for many. I urge all Californians to be diligent and do their research before making any kind of home repair through a contractor. Additionally, if you believe you have been a victim of price gouging, report it to your local authorities or to my office at oag.ca.gov/report.”

“Disaster survivors take a huge risk when they hire unlicensed contractors,” said CSLB Registrar David Fogt. “Most are not properly insured and likely don’t have the skills or knowledge to perform the work. It is important to verify on CSLB’s website the person you are working with is included on CSLB’s license records.”

Don’t Fall Victim to Unlicensed Contractors

The California Department of Justice works closely with the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) to ensure residents do not fall victim to unlicensed home reparation and reconstruction services. As a reminder, CSLB encourages everyone to check all contractors’ license numbers on the CSLB website and check each contractor’s pocket license to confirm the listed personnel on the license. Complaints against contractors for unlicensed practices and other violations of contractor’s license law can be filed online.

Additional tips and recommendations from CSLB:

• Don’t rush into repairs or cleanup, no matter how badly they’re needed.
• Don’t sign over any payment checks from your insurance company.
• Hire only California-licensed contractors. Ask to see the license. The license number must be on all ads, contracts, and business cards.
• Don’t pay more than 10 percent down or $1,000 — whichever is less.
• Don’t pay cash, and don’t let the payments get ahead of the work. Only pay for work as it is completed to your satisfaction.
• Avoid making the final payment until you’re satisfied with the job.

Got a successful RMO-Contractor relationship? Meet for lunch, share your story & tips of good RMO practices, send us a video and lunch is on us!

Details apply, terms are stated below and at the end of the video.

Terms: Send the link to your video to:
Story@RMOAgency.com

Receipt required to redeem payment. Payment to be equal to receipt presented or $50, whichever is less. Compensation to be made in the form of a Visa or MC Gift Card. Video Must be 2-5 minutes in length. One submission per person per calendar month. By submitting, you attest the story you share is yours and accurate to the best of your recollection. By submitting you are allowing RMO Agency to use your video for promotional purposes without any further compensation to you or anyone else involved. RMO Agency reserves the right to determine if submissions are appropriate and useable, any submission determined inappropriate or unusable, will not be compensated. 

Please contact us with any questions at:
Email hello@rmoagency.com
Call 800-818-4962.

Congratulations to our recent graduates:

• Azizi Remodeling Inc
• Juniper Construction Inc
• Gold Standard Builders Inc

New year, new goals. As we head into 2023, RMO Agency is here for you now more than ever!

We look forward to serving you in 2023.
We are here to get you licensed.
We are here to help you make extra income with your existing license.
In 2023, we are here!

Also, if you know someone looking to get licensed, want to add a classification to their business, or seasoned contractors looking to pay it forward as RMOs for new contractors, our refer-a-friend program will pay you $250 for each successful referral! Send them our way and we will discuss the benefits of signing up with RMO Agency!

Sacramento, CA – Heading into 2023, the Contractors State License Board wants to remind licensees of new laws taking effect in the new year.

SB 216 (Dodd)

This bill requires that by January 1, 2026, all contractors, except for joint ventures without employees, hold valid workers’ compensation insurance, whether or not they have employees. More information about this new law can be found in a November industry bulletin. (Chapter 978, Statutes of 2022)

SB 607 (Min)
This bill updates numerous sections of the BPC, and increases the CSLB qualifier, licensing and application maintenance and service fees, and minimum disciplinary bonds from $12,500 and $15,000, respectively, to $25,000 for all three bonds as of January 1. More information about the bond increase can be found in this industry bulletin issued in September.

SB 1237 (Newman)

This bill updates current law that requires DCA boards, including CSLB, to waive renewal fees for a licensee who is called to active duty as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or California National Guard if the licensee or registrant is stationed outside of California and expands the definition of “called to active duty”.

AB 2105 (Smith)

This bill requires the board to grant a 50% fee reduction for an initial license or registration fee to an applicant who provides specified documentation to the board that the applicant is a veteran who has served as an active-duty member of the United States Armed Forces and was not dishonorably discharged.

SB 1443 (Roth)

This bill amends the statutory sunset date of CSLB from January 1, 2024, to January 1, 2025. (Chapter 625, Statutes of 2022)

AB 1747 (Quirk)

This bill increases the civil penalty from $8,000 to $30,000 for every violation of building laws and assessment of civil penalties. In addition to building permit violations, the bill includes the failure to comply with certain health and safety laws, water laws, safe excavation requirements, pest control requirements, illegal dumping, and other state laws related to building and insurance requirements. (Chapter 757, Statutes of 2022)

AB 2374 (Bauer-Kahan)

This bill amends Penal Code Section 374.3, which requires courts to notify CSLB or other DCA boards or bureaus when a licensee is convicted of an illegal dumping crime in order for the board to publish it on their website and increases the fines a court may impose for this crime and require responsible persons to remove or pay for the removal of the waste matter that was illegally dumped. (Chapter 784, Statutes of 2022)

AB 2916 (McCarty)

This bill updates the CSLB Letter of Admonishment (LOA) program to allow CSLB to determine whether it should be issued for one or two years, rather than the current one-year limitation. (Chapter 293, Statutes of 2022)

Story From the CSLB

Sacramento, CA – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) has learned of a new text message scam targeting licensees. In the most recent scheme, an individual sends a text message to licensees stating, “Inspect your type c and b license immediately for accuracy to avoid revocation” and links to a non-CSLB website.

Please be advised that CSLB staff will never use text message to contact licensees and will not ask for confidential information via text message.

NEVER disclose personal information, such as your full social security number, date of birth, or credit/debit card numbers, without first taking steps to verify that the person requesting the information has a legitimate need for it.

If you receive a text message from an individual asking about the status of your license or attempting to gather personal information or collect payment, please:

• Take down the text message information (including phone number and content of text message). Do NOT click the link or provide any personal information or payments.
• Contact CSLB at social@cslb.ca.gov or on CSLB’s Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
• Visit the Federal Trade Commission’s website on phishing scams and the FBI’s website on phishing and spoofing.

Got a successful RMO-Contractor relationship? Meet for lunch, share your story & tips of good RMO practices, send us a video and lunch is on us!

Details apply, terms are stated below and at the end of the video.

Terms: Send the link to your video to:
Story@RMOAgency.com

Receipt required to redeem payment. Payment to be equal to receipt presented or $50, whichever is less. Compensation to be made in the form of a Visa or MC Gift Card. Video Must be 2-5 minutes in length. One submission per person per calendar month. By submitting, you attest the story you share is yours and accurate to the best of your recollection. By submitting you are allowing RMO Agency to use your video for promotional purposes without any further compensation to you or anyone else involved. RMO Agency reserves the right to determine if submissions are appropriate and useable, any submission determined inappropriate or unusable, will not be compensated. 

Congratulations to our recent graduates:

• Arbor Co Tree Care
• Gettler Construction Inc
• Kyvos Construction Inc
• Robertson Testing Inc

Meet Rowdy, Rowie, and Rema, they are the RMO Agency Beavers. Watch their stories below!

CSLB Shares Additional Details Regarding Workers’ Compensation Insurance Requirement for Four License Classifications

Sacramento, CA – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) wants to inform active licensees starting January 1, 2023, renewals will not be processed without proof of workers’ compensation insurance for license classifications C-8 (Concrete), C-20 (Warm-Air Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning), C-22 (Asbestos Abatement), and D-49 (Tree Service), regardless of whether the contractor has employees.

As of January 1, 2023, Business & Professions Code Section 7125 will require workers’ compensation insurance as a condition for issuing, reinstating, reactivating, renewing, or maintaining a license in one of these classifications. Section 7125 also requires the removal of these classifications from any license that is not in compliance as of July 1, 2023. CSLB understands and will apply these deadlines in the following manner.

If you hold one of these license classifications:

• After January 1, 2023, no license in these classifications will be issued, reinstated, reactivated, or renewed without a valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance.

• If you have an active license, do not have employees, and are not due to renew until after June 30, 2023, CSLB will not require you to have proof of workers’ compensation insurance on file until July 1, 2023.

After June 30, 2023, any licensee holding a C-8, C-20, C-22, or D-49 that does not have a Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance on file with CSLB will have that classification removed. Because it may take time to seek and obtain a workers’ compensation insurance policy, CSLB strongly recommends that you not wait until this deadline to obtain a policy and file your certificate.

The new workers’ compensation insurance requirement for C-8, C-20, C-22, and D-49 licensees is the result of Senate Bill 216 which takes effect January 1, 2023. The only exception in SB 216 is for joint venture licenses, which will still be able to file a certificate of exemption if one of the joint venture license entities has a workers’ compensation insurance policy.

SB 216 also requires that all active contractors – with or without employees – have a valid Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance by January 1, 2026.

Need to Know How to File a Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance with CSLB?

• Information about filing a Certificate of Workers’ Compensation with CSLB can be found on the CSLB website.

• Licensees can have their insurance company or broker file the certificate of insurance online with CSLB.

Need to Know More about Workers’ Compensation Insurance?

• Contractors can obtain workers’ compensation coverage from any licensed insurer.
• The California Department of Insurance has workers’ compensation insurance resources on its website.

• The State Compensation Insurance Fund provides workers’ compensation coverage to many contractors and offers resources specifically designed for the construction industry. Contractors can obtain an online quote from State Fund on its website.

If licensees in the C-8, C-20, C-22, and D-49 classifications already have a Certificate of Workers’ Compensation Insurance on file with CSLB, this is informational only and no further action is needed.

Sacramento, CA – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) wants to remind all contractors that the Business and Professions Code (BPC) restricts payments on home improvement contracts to a maximum down payment of $1,000 and subsequent payments must not exceed the value of materials and work performed, including for residential solar.

BPC sections 7159 and 7159.5 contain mandatory home improvement contract provisions regarding down payments and progress payments for home improvement work. The definition of home improvement includes solar energy systems.

Home improvement contract provisions limit contract payments and require the following language to be in the contract, pursuant to BPC sections 7159(d)(8) and (9).

• The heading: “Down Payment”
• A space where the actual amount of the down payment appears
• The following statement in at least 12-point boldface type: “THE DOWN PAYMENT MAY NOT EXCEED $1,000 OR 10 PERCENT OF THE CONTRACT PRICE, WHICHEVER IS LESS.”
• Schedule of Payments: If a home improvement contract includes a payment schedule, rather than payment at project completion, the progress payment(s) must show the amount of each payment and explain what work, materials, or services have been completed for that payment, and be preceded by the heading “Schedule of Progress Payments.”
• The following statement must be included in a contract that provides for a payment schedule in at least 12-point boldface type:

• • “The schedule of progress payments must specifically describe each phase of work, including the type and amount of work or services scheduled to be supplied in each phase, along with the amount of each proposed progress payment.  IT IS AGAINST THE LAW FOR A CONTRACTOR TO COLLECT PAYMENT FOR WORK NOT YET COMPLETED, OR FOR MATERIALS NOT YET DELIVERED. HOWEVER, A CONTRACTOR MAY REQUIRE A DOWN PAYMENT.”

Contractors found to be in violation of home improvement contract law are subject to disciplinary action from the CSLB as well as inclusion on the Public Utilities Commission Watch List. In addition, a violation of BPC section 7159.5 and its provisions regarding down payment and progress payment restrictions is punishable as a misdemeanor.

To ensure you are complying with home improvement contract law, please see CSLB’sContracting for Success Brochure.

Got a successful RMO-Contractor relationship? Meet for lunch, share your story & tips of good RMO practices, send us a video and lunch is on us!

Details apply, terms are stated below and at the end of the video.

Terms: Send the link to your video to:
Story@RMOAgency.com

Receipt required to redeem payment. Payment to be equal to receipt presented or $50, whichever is less. Compensation to be made in the form of a Visa or MC Gift Card. Video Must be 2-5 minutes in length. One submission per person per calendar month. By submitting, you attest the story you share is yours and accurate to the best of your recollection. By submitting you are allowing RMO Agency to use your video for promotional purposes without any further compensation to you or anyone else involved. RMO Agency reserves the right to determine if submissions are appropriate and useable, any submission determined inappropriate or unusable, will not be compensated. 

Congratulations to our recent graduates:

• Elite Remodeling Group Inc.
• Reliance Roofing Inc.

Meet Craig, who recently joined our program. He shares some of his experience and thoughts on being an RMO and working with RMO Agency.

Click thumbnail for larger photo

This past October we went out to lunch with a few of our local RMO ambassadors. It was a great experience for all, they shared some stories about their construction experience and tips for being great RMOs to their new contractors. Our RMOs got to enjoy a healthy lunch, network with like minded contractors, talk construction, and anything else that came up, and overall we had a great afternoon! Our community is strong and supportive and we are grateful for our clients and their stories! Please let us know if you want to join a future RMO Community networking event and we’ll reach out if we are in your area!

Thank you for being a part of our RMO Connect Community!

Who couldn’t enjoy watching some guys crushing it and getting a job done? We enjoyed this time-lapse video of building a house and thought you would too.

Got a successful RMO-Contractor relationship? Meet for lunch, share your story & tips of good RMO practices, send us a video and lunch is on us!

Details apply, terms are stated below and at the end of the video.

Terms: Send the link to your video to:
Story@RMOAgency.com

Receipt required to redeem payment. Payment to be equal to receipt presented or $50, whichever is less. Compensation to be made in the form of a Visa or MC Gift Card. Video Must be 2-5 minutes in length. One submission per person per calendar month. By submitting, you attest the story you share is yours and accurate to the best of your recollection. By submitting you are allowing RMO Agency to use your video for promotional purposes without any further compensation to you or anyone else involved. RMO Agency reserves the right to determine if submissions are appropriate and useable, any submission determined inappropriate or unusable, will not be compensated. 

Congratulations to our recent graduates:

• S And L Remodeling And Design Inc
• Summit Clean Air Llc Dba Crawl Space And Attic Pro

Meet The RMO Agency Team in this video playlist. In this video we go over Tips For Contractors on Keeping Your New License in Good Standing

Sacramento, CA – The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) is reminding all licensees that the contractor’s bond amount is increasing to $25,000 on January 1, 2023.

CSLB first publicized this increase in December 2021. The increase is the result of Senate Bill 607, which was signed into law in 2021. The increase applies to the contractor license bond (from $15,000 to $25,000) and the bond of qualifying individual (from $12,500 to $25,000).

CSLB distributed notices to 203 surety companies on September 28, 2022, with instructions for automatically increasing all licenses’ bonds and bonds of qualifying individuals currently on file with CSLB. If you are a licensed contractor, your surety company or broker should contact you soon to inform you of any changes to your bond premium.

You can also contact your surety company directly to ensure they have returned documentation to CSLB to increase your bond. If you know the name of your surety company, you can look up their contact information here. The name and contact information of your surety is also on your bond agreement itself or your broker can provide it. Questions about any increase to your bond premium must be directed to your broker or surety company and not CSLB.

Revised contractor bond and bond of qualifying individual forms with the new bond amounts will be available to the sureties in December 2022.

The increase occurred in part due to a license bond study CSLB conducted as required by Business and Professions Code section 7071.6. The study determined that the current $15,000 amount of the contractor bond is not sufficient and an increase may be necessary.

More information about bonds can be found on CSLB’s website.

Got a successful RMO-Contractor relationship? Meet for lunch, share your story & tips of good RMO practices, send us a video and lunch is on us!

Details apply, terms are stated below and at the end of the video.

Terms: Send the link to your video to:
Story@RMOAgency.com

Receipt required to redeem payment. Payment to be equal to receipt presented or $50, whichever is less. Compensation to be made in the form of a Visa or MC Gift Card. Video Must be 2-5 minutes in length. One submission per person per calendar month. By submitting, you attest the story you share is yours and accurate to the best of your recollection. By submitting you are allowing RMO Agency to use your video for promotional purposes without any further compensation to you or anyone else involved. RMO Agency reserves the right to determine if submissions are appropriate and useable, any submission determined inappropriate or unusable, will not be compensated. 

Congratulations to our recent graduates:

• Crescenta Valley Tile Distributor Inc
• Summit Clean Air LLC
• Perez family Landscaping
• S And L Remodeling And Design Inc

We’ve started a new video series, Meet The RMO Agency Team. In this first video we touch on What You Should Know About RMO Agency.

The world is changing and how people work and do business is changing with it. The “gig economy” has increased over the last few years with about 35% of the US workforce having freelanced in 2019. So what are the benefits of being a contractor over being an employee?

The potential to earn more. Working as your own boss offers more control over the hourly rate or per-project price being charged to clients. This means that, over time, someone can earn more as a qualified contractor than if he or she was working for a construction company as an employee.

More freedom on and off the job. Qualified contractors get to choose which clients they want to work with. This can make for a much more enjoyable work environment. Additionally, qualified contractors have more freedom in scheduling and taking time off when needed.

A flexible career path. Those who work as contractors get to design their career path, from the jobs they work on to the people they choose to work alongside. Also, there may be more flexibility in where they work, and whether projects are large, small, residential, or commercial. Qualified contractors get to make these decisions on their own without being tethered to anyone else.

Being a contractor starts with having your license. Call us now and get on the path to getting your license the fastest legal way possible.

Got a successful RMO-Contractor relationship? Meet for lunch, share your story & tips of good RMO practices, send us a video and lunch is on us!

RMO Bobby M. meeting up with Jeremy from Plumbing Buddies

Details apply, terms are stated below and at the end of the video.

Terms: Send the link to your video to:
Story@RMOAgency.com

Receipt required to redeem payment. Payment to be equal to receipt presented or $50, whichever is less. Compensation to be made in the form of a Visa or MC Gift Card. Video Must be 2-5 minutes in length. One submission per person per calendar month. By submitting, you attest the story you share is yours and accurate to the best of your recollection. By submitting you are allowing RMO Agency to use your video for promotional purposes without any further compensation to you or anyone else involved. RMO Agency reserves the right to determine if submissions are appropriate and useable, any submission determined inappropriate or unusable, will not be compensated. 

Experienced RMOs share some tips for your safety meetings.

Got a tip of your own to share? Let us know in the comments below or email us at story@rmoagency.com

OSHA’s NEP was recently launched to drive the development of the first ever Federal Heat Standard to protect millions of workers from heat-related illness & death. Learn more about what to expect.

Got a successful RMO-Contractor relationship? Meet for lunch, share your story & tips of good RMO practices, send us a video and lunch is on us!

Details apply, terms are stated below and at the end of the video.

Terms: Send the link to your video to:
Story@RMOAgency.com

Receipt required to redeem payment. Payment to be equal to receipt presented or $50, whichever is less. Compensation to be made in the form of a Visa or MC Gift Card. Video Must be 2-5 minutes in length. One submission per person per calendar month. By submitting, you attest the story you share is yours and accurate to the best of your recollection. By submitting you are allowing RMO Agency to use your video for promotional purposes without any further compensation to you or anyone else involved. RMO Agency reserves the right to determine if submissions are appropriate and useable, any submission determined inappropriate or unusable, will not be compensated. 

Congratulations to our recent graduates:

• Home Improvement Projects

Michael, an experienced RMO, gives you some simple marketing tips to follow so you can get more business.

Got a tip of your own to share? Let us know in the comments below or email us at story@rmoagency.com

Just last year the CSLB introduced a new license called the B-2 Residential Remodeling Contractor. Learn how this new classification is expanding opportunities for residential remodeling contractors without structural experience to get licensed.

Got a successful RMO-Contractor relationship? Meet for lunch, share your story & tips of good RMO practices, send us a video and lunch is on us!

Details apply, terms are stated below and at the end of the video.

Terms: Send the link to your video to:
Story@RMOAgency.com

Receipt required to redeem payment. Payment to be equal to receipt presented or $50, whichever is less. Compensation to be made in the form of a Visa or MC Gift Card. Video Must be 2-5 minutes in length. One submission per person per calendar month. By submitting, you attest the story you share is yours and accurate to the best of your recollection. By submitting you are allowing RMO Agency to use your video for promotional purposes without any further compensation to you or anyone else involved. RMO Agency reserves the right to determine if submissions are appropriate and useable, any submission determined inappropriate or unusable, will not be compensated. 

Congratulations to our recent graduates:

• Lifetime Remodeling Inc
• King Construction and Maintenance