Vetting a remodeling contractor in Austin, Cedar Park or Round Rock comes down to six checks: City registration, the trade licenses of the electrician and plumber, current insurance certificates, what any badge on the truck actually certifies, how the reviews were earned, and what the contract says. None of them takes long, and together they separate a contractor from a phone number. They apply to Alpha Construction as much as to anyone, and we would rather you check than take our word for it.
Texas does not license general contractors, so check registration
In Texas, anyone can be a general contractor and no state license is required, as the City of Austin's contractor registration page states. That is why a search for a Texas GC license turns up nothing. What the City does require is that general contractors, trade contractors and homeowners acting as contractors register with Building and Trade Contractor Services, and only a registered general contractor can pay for and activate a building permit. Ask for the registration. A contractor who asks you to pull the permit yourself is on the Federal Trade Commission's list of warning signs.
The trades on the job are licensed, and you can look them up
The licensing that does exist in Texas is on the trades. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation states that anyone who performs or offers to perform non-exempt electrical work in Texas must be licensed, working through a licensed electrical contractor, and its licence search is public. The Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners says it in four words on its home page: always hire a licensed plumber, and it has a public licence search of its own. The City of Austin requires a licence and registration for each trade on top of that. Ask who the electrician and plumber will be and check them.
One more check for older houses: the EPA requires anyone paid to disturb paint in housing built before 1978 to be certified under its Renovation, Repair and Painting program, with an exemption only for minor work disturbing six square feet or less per room inside or 20 square feet or less outside. A kitchen or bathroom remodel in a pre-1978 house is not minor work.
Ask for the insurance certificates, then read the dates
The FTC's Hiring a Contractor guide says contractors should carry personal liability, worker's compensation and property damage coverage, and to ask for copies of the certificates and make sure they are current, because otherwise you could be held liable for injuries and damage during the project. It adds that subcontractors need current coverage and licences too. Read the expiration dates, not just the letterhead.
What BBB and NARI actually certify
BBB accreditation is a standards commitment. BBB states that to qualify a business must continually meet its eight Standards for Trust, that not all businesses will qualify, and that BBB charges a fee for accreditation. The standards are about advertising honestly, being transparent, honoring promises and being responsive, and the profile shows how complaints were handled. It does not grade tile work.
NARI membership is a pledge. Every member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry pledges to observe high standards of honesty, integrity and responsibility, including obtaining and retaining the insurance and the licensing or registration required by federal, state and local authorities, writing contracts and warranties that comply with the law, and promptly acting on customer complaints. Alpha Construction is a NARI award winner and BBB accredited, and the check is the same for us as for anyone: look the profile up rather than trusting the badge.
How to read review counts across five sites
Google, Yelp, Houzz, Angi and HomeAdvisor each show a different count for the same company, because customers leave reviews where they were asked to. A high count on one site and none on another usually means the company asks in one place. Read for the same experience showing up repeatedly, good or bad, and search the company's name with words like complaint, as the FTC suggests. Then ask for references directly: the FTC says a contractor should be able to give names, addresses and phone numbers of at least three clients with projects like yours, and that you can ask to visit jobs in progress.
Compare the bids on scope, not the bottom line
Get written estimates from several firms. The FTC says a written estimate should include a description of the work, the materials, the completion date and the price, and not to automatically choose the lowest bidder but to ask for an explanation when the estimates differ widely. Three bids that describe three different scopes cannot be compared on price at all, which is why our kitchen and whole home scopes list every item before work begins.
What the contract has to say
The FTC's contract checklist is the one to hold every contractor to, including us:
- Name, address, phone and licence number where one is required
- An estimated start and completion date
- The payment schedule for the contractor, subcontractors and suppliers
- The contractor's obligation to get all necessary permits
- How change orders are handled, and a detailed materials list with brand, model, color and size
- Warranties on materials and workmanship, what the contractor will and will not do, and any promise made in conversation
On money, the FTC's rules are short: do not pay the full amount up front, never make the final payment until the work is done and you are satisfied, and ask the contractor and every subcontractor and supplier for a lien release or lien waiver so an unpaid bill cannot become a lien on your house.
The check that matters most
Call and see who answers. A remodel is weeks of decisions, and the contractor you can reach is the one whose job goes right. We return every call within two hours during business hours, document every project with photos from start to finish, and hold to the scope and price you approved, with no surprise costs. Run the six checks on us, then call 737-235-2776.
Published Sep 15, 2026