Licensed, Bonded and Insured

Insured is the one that matters most

General liability insurance covers damage the contractor causes to your property and injury to third parties. This is the protection that actually matters to a homeowner, and it is the one worth verifying. Ask for a certificate of insurance rather than accepting a verbal assurance. It is a standard document and any legitimate company produces it without fuss.

Bonded means something narrower than people assume

A surety bond is a financial guarantee, usually that a job will be completed or that the contractor will meet certain obligations. It protects against non-performance rather than accidental damage, and for a residential window cleaning job it is far less relevant than liability cover. Many companies advertise bonded because it sounds reassuring rather than because it does much for you here.

Licensed varies enormously by trade and state

Idaho does not require a specific occupational licence for window cleaning the way it does for electrical or plumbing work. A company saying licensed generally means it is a registered business in good standing, which is worth something but is not a competence credential. Do not read more into the word than it carries.

The two-minute check

Ask for a certificate of insurance and confirm the policy period covers your job date. Ask whether they carry workers compensation for anyone on your property. Confirm the business has a physical address. Those three answers tell you considerably more than the phrase on the van.