Hiring someone to do site work on your property is a bigger decision than it might seem. Whether you need a driveway graded, land cleared, a trench dug, or a full excavation project handled, the person operating that equipment on your land has real power to either solve your problem cleanly — or create new ones that cost far more than the job itself.
In rural areas of northern Michigan and the Upper Peninsula, it's common to find operators who work cheap, show up with their own equipment, and get the job done well enough. But "well enough" has limits. And when something goes wrong — a gas line gets clipped, equipment damages a structure, or a job gets done incorrectly — the question of who is responsible matters enormously.
Before you hire anyone to break ground on your property, get answers to these three questions.
1. Are You Licensed for This Type of Work?
Michigan requires contractors to hold specific licenses for certain categories of work. Licensing isn't just bureaucratic paperwork — it means the contractor has demonstrated knowledge of state codes and regulations, passed required examinations, and is accountable to a licensing board if their work falls short.
This matters for nearly every type of site work. Grading work done without regard for drainage codes can cause water to redirect toward your foundation or a neighbor's property. Land clearing done carelessly can leave you with erosion problems and regulatory headaches. Certain types of work — septic system installation, for example — require a state-issued license to perform legally in Michigan.
A licensed contractor knows what the rules are because they are required to. That knowledge protects you.
2. Do You Carry General Liability Insurance?
General liability insurance exists to protect you — not the contractor — when something unexpected happens on your property. Equipment breaks a fence. A utility line gets struck. A retaining wall gets damaged. Grading work redirects water somewhere it shouldn't go.
Without proper insurance, any of those scenarios becomes a dispute between you and an operator who may have no ability to make you whole. You could find yourself filing a claim against your own homeowner's policy for damage caused by someone else's work.
Ask for a certificate of insurance before any work begins. Any legitimate contractor can provide one on request. If they can't — or won't — that tells you something important about how they operate.
3. Are You Familiar with Local Permit Requirements?
Depending on the type and scope of work, certain projects may require permits from your local township or county — and it's typically the homeowner's responsibility to obtain them. A knowledgeable contractor should be upfront about what your project requires so you aren't caught off guard after the fact.
An inexperienced or unlicensed operator may not flag permit requirements at all — leaving you with completed work that isn't compliant with local codes. That can create real problems when you go to sell your property, file an insurance claim, or have the work inspected down the road.
Ask your contractor directly: does this project require any permits, and what do I need to know before we start? A straight answer to that question tells you a lot about how they do business.
The "Cheaper" Option Usually Isn't
Unlicensed and uninsured operators often quote lower prices because their overhead is lower — no insurance premiums, no licensing fees, no compliance costs. That price gap can look attractive, especially on larger jobs.
But the math changes fast when something goes wrong. A regraded driveway that drains toward your garage instead of away from it. A trench that collapses and damages an underground line. Land clearing that triggers an erosion issue affecting a neighboring property. These aren't rare edge cases — they're predictable outcomes when work is done without proper training, accountability, or coverage.
The savings from hiring cheap rarely survive first contact with a real problem.
What to Ask Before Anyone Starts
Here's a simple checklist before signing anything or shaking hands on a job:
- "Can I see your license?" — For regulated work in Michigan, a license number should be easy to provide.
- "Can I get a certificate of insurance?" — General liability coverage, provided on request.
- "Does this project require any permits on my end?" — A good contractor will tell you upfront what you need to know.
A contractor who is confident in their credentials will answer all of these without hesitation.
Tangerine Tiller LLC is a fully licensed and insured excavating and grading contractor serving northern Michigan and the eastern Upper Peninsula. Owner-operator Dwayne Lee holds all required Michigan licenses — including a septic system installer's license — and carries general liability insurance on every job.
Every job is owner-operated. When Tangerine Tiller shows up on your property, Dwayne is the one running the equipment — not a subcontractor, not a day laborer. That direct accountability is part of how every job gets done right.
Dwayne Lee is the owner-operator of Tangerine Tiller LLC, a licensed and insured excavating, grading, and septic system contractor based in Sault Ste. Marie, MI, serving Chippewa, Mackinac, Luce, Emmet, and Cheboygan counties.