Frequently asked questions

  • A licensed contractor is a professional who has obtained a special permit from the state or local government to perform construction work. This license ensures that the contractor has met specific educational and experience requirements, passed relevant examinations, and adheres to industry standards. Licensed contractors are required to have valid insurance and meet financial requirements, which provides protection for both the contractor and the client in case of accidents or issues arising during a project.

    Hiring a licensed contractor offers several benefits. It indicates a level of professionalism and accountability, as these contractors are obligated to comply with building codes and regulations. Additionally, working with a licensed contractor can give homeowners peace of mind knowing that they are hiring someone who is qualified to handle their specific needs, from renovations to new construction.

  • Blue Star Home Repair LLC has been proudly serving our community since 2007. We became a licensed general contractor in 2020, bringing our services to a new level of professionalism and compliance with industry standards.

    Over the years, we’ve weathered major economic challenges — including the 2008 housing market crash and the 2020 pandemic — and continued to grow stronger through it all. Our team brings together over 75 years of combined experience in the construction industry, offering a deep well of knowledge and hands-on expertise.

    As our business and workforce continue to expand, we remain committed to delivering high-quality work and dependable service for years to come.

  • How Do I Know If I Need a Contractor?

    Understanding the difference between a licensed contractor and a handyman is essential when planning any home improvement project. Choosing the right professional can mean the difference between a smooth, code-compliant job — and costly problems down the road.

    When to Hire a Contractor
    A general contractor is a licensed professional who has demonstrated proven knowledge of the construction industry to a state licensing board. In order to maintain their license, contractors must carry liability insurance, meet financial responsibility requirements, and stay compliant with building regulations. This protects you as the homeowner and ensures your project is completed to industry standards.

    Contractors are typically required for:

    • Structural work (e.g., additions, framing, load-bearing wall modifications)

    • Projects requiring permits or inspections

    • Electrical, plumbing, and HVAC system alterations

    • Major renovations or remodels

    • Coordinating multiple trades or subcontractors

    Even for smaller jobs, hiring a licensed contractor can save time and money by preventing costly mistakes, ensuring code compliance, and managing project logistics from start to finish.

    When a Handyman Might Be Enough
    A handyman generally performs smaller repair and maintenance tasks and is not required to be licensed or insured in many areas. They are best suited for minor projects such as:

    • Fixing leaky faucets

    • Small drywall patches

    • Replacing light fixtures

    • Painting a room

    • Installing shelves or door hardware

    While a handyman can be helpful for quick fixes, they are not qualified to take on structural, permitted, or code-sensitive work.

    Still Not Sure?
    If you're unsure whether your project requires a licensed contractor or could be handled by a handyman, reach out to us. We're happy to provide guidance and help you determine the best path forward — even if we’re not the ones doing the job.

  • Yes, our contractor number is 85252 in NC and we are also a United States Veterans Affairs Building contractor #12640.

    You can verify our license or anyone else's using the link below.

    https://portal.nclbgc.org/Public/Search

  • What If a Contractor Can’t Show You Their License?

    If someone claims to be a contractor but cannot provide a valid license — or presents a license that isn’t in their name — that’s a red flag. Understanding how licensing works can help you avoid unqualified or dishonest individuals.

    In many states, including North Carolina and Virginia, a contractor's license may be issued under a business name, but it must be tied to a specific person known as the qualifier. The qualifier is the individual who passed the required exams and holds legal responsibility for the license. This is the person you should be working with and asking questions to — not just anyone using the business name.

    How to Verify a Contractor’s License

    1. Visit your state’s licensing board website (links provided below).

    2. Search by business name, license number, or individual name.

    3. Confirm that:

      • The license is listed as “Active”

      • The person you’re speaking with is the listed qualifier

      • The license matches the type of work being offered

    If the person is not listed, the license is inactive, or their name is not associated with the license, they are not legally qualified to perform contracting work — and may be misrepresenting themselves. In that case, you should avoid hiring them and consider reporting the issue to the licensing board.

    Helpful Links for License Verification

  • A contractor provides the experience to comply with current building codes, permitting, and legal requirements of any project.  Each project has its own set of challenges and we have the experience to overcome the challenges that come with a project and keep things on schedule. Having a contractor makes the process much, much easier. We also offer you protection that your project rests on us and not on you calling 20 people to make sure everything happens the way it should. 

    There are a lot of want-to-be contractors out there and verifying your contractor and their insurance is a critical step. The verification is easy. With the window above just type in your contractors name or their business name. If they do not show up with the word valid beside their name they are not a currently licensed contractor.

    To verify insurance all you need is for the contractor to issue you a certificate of insurance (COI) and then you call that company to verify it is a valid policy that covers the work being done.

  • Yes, in most cases there is a marginal price increase compared to an unlicensed person doing your project. A licensed contractor is required to meet many standards, carry insurance policies, and is held to a much higher educational and financial standard than a handyman. With this it requires more costs to be compliant. This added cost is factored into each job throughout the year. This cost also provides you peace of mind that your job will be completed in a timely manner and guaranteed to meet or exceed building codes. When factoring this in you must consider that this cost is far less expensive than having to have your new project repaired should something go wrong.

  • We generally operate in Alleghany, Ashe, Surry, & Wilkes counties in N.C. 

    Carroll & Grayson counties in V.A. 

    We do travel outside of these areas so feel free to call us regardless of where you are located.

  • Yes, within the borders of Alleghany County we offer free estimates. Anything outside the county has a small fee that will be credited to your project estimate should you accept our estimate.

  • Estimate Policy – Blue Star Home Repair LLC

    At Blue Star Home Repair LLC, we offer two tiers of estimates to meet the needs of our clients: Free Estimates and Professional Estimates.

    Free Estimates
    Our complimentary estimate includes a site visit within Alleghany County or up to five (5) miles beyond the county line. While on site, we collaborate directly with the homeowner to understand the scope of the project. This estimate will serve as the foundation for the construction agreement between Blue Star Home Repair LLC and the homeowner, should the project move forward.

    Professional Estimates
    A Professional Estimate includes everything offered in our free estimate, plus any additional services needed for more complex projects. This may include not-to-scale drawings to help visualize the work, as well as direct correspondence with insurance adjusters, loan officers, or building officials on your behalf.

    Professional Estimates are billed at a rate of $25 per person, per hour. However, any fees paid for a Professional Estimate will be credited toward the total project cost if Blue Star Home Repair LLC is selected to perform the work.

    Out-of-Area Estimates
    For projects located outside of our standard free estimate coverage area, a flat-rate travel and assessment fee applies. Please contact us directly for pricing based on your specific location.

  • All of our estimates are valid for 14 day. This is due to material price fluctuations and wanting to give you the best available prices.

  • All of our estimates require a deposit to have it scheduled. We have had many unsecured jobs that would cancel at the last minute even as far as when we arrived on site to start work. This leads to a massive amount of work to return materials and reschedule other jobs to keep our crews working and supporting their families. With the way our system works you have a legally binding contract that secures that we will do the work as outlined in the scope of work and we have monetary security upfront to partially pay for the materials and to hold the day you have requested.

  • All of our estimates require a deposit but depending on the type of work you are needing sets the structure unless requested otherwise.

    For repair work: we do 1/2 upfront and 1/2 on the last day of work

    For any large scale work lasting over a week our standard is:

    1/4 upfront to schedule

    1/4 at material delivery on our 1st day of work

    1/4 at a significant milestone at least 2/3rds through your project, that is outlined in the estimate.

    1/4 due at the last day of work or when we have passed final inspection. Whichever is last

  • Give us a call. We can come in as a consultant or we can assume your job entirely. It can look easy to make phone calls and get people on a schedule but when you have a 1 and done job it is harder to keep that schedule as time goes on. In every project there are unforeseen things and delays but when you are an owner-contractor, sometimes delays can be nothing more than a company padding their pockets and taking advantage of someone who doesn't know the industry. With years of experience and the intimate knowledge of the industry we are here to help. Feel free to call us, wither it is just questions to ease your mind or a site visit to actively help your project our consulting services can bring thing back in line. If that is not for you we are more than happy to assume the job in its entirety and you sit back and watch your project come to life.

  • This is a loaded question. The only answer that is correct is "it depends". Several factors go into every job. Elevation changes, ground type, scale of the project, if demolition is needed, materials to be used, change orders, weather, etc. Here is an average for a non complicated build to factor in small to large sizes.

    Decks - 2-3 weeks

    Home builds 8-14 weeks

    Additions - 4-10 weeks

    Bathroom renovations 2-6 weeks

    Kitchen remodels 2-6 weeks

    Basic Flooring 1 day - 2 weeks

    Hardwood flooring - 1-3 weeks

  • If the roads are safe and weather is conducive to the type of work we are doing, we will do all we can to get on site. The rule of thumb we follow most is if Alleghany County Schools are open we are working. If they close for severe weather or hazardous conditions we will ususally follow suit though there are some exceptions.