Things to Ask a Contractor Before You Hire Them

Questions About Licensing, Insurance, and Who Is Doing the Work

Requirements differ by state and locality, so do not assume that a license number alone answers everything. Verify licenses through the appropriate authority when licensing applies, and ask for current insurance information. If subcontractors will perform important parts of the work, understand who they are and who supervises them.

You are not trying to create paperwork for its own sake. These questions identify who is legally and practically responsible when workers are on your property.

1. Are you licensed for this type of work where a license is required?
2. What is your license number, and where can I verify it?
3. Can you provide a current certificate of liability insurance?
4. Do you carry workers’ compensation coverage when it is required?
5. Will your own employees do the work, or will you use subcontractors?
6. If you use subcontractors, who hires and supervises them?
7. Who will be my main contact once the project starts?
8. Who will be on site day to day?
9. How long have you been doing this specific type of project?
10. Can you provide recent references for similar work?

Questions About the Scope and the Estimate

Two estimates can look similar at the bottom line while covering very different work. Ask the contractor to describe what is included and, just as important, what is excluded. Materials should be identified with enough specificity that you can compare quality rather than just category.

For renovation and repair work, hidden conditions are common. You want to know in advance how the contractor handles discoveries such as rot, damaged framing, unsuitable soil, old wiring, plumbing problems, or other conditions that could not be seen before demolition.

1. Can you walk me through exactly what is included in this price?
2. What is specifically excluded from the estimate?
3. Which materials, brands, grades, or product lines are included?
4. Are delivery, disposal, cleanup, and equipment charges included?
5. What assumptions did you make when preparing the estimate?
6. What conditions could cause the price to increase?
7. How will you price work that is discovered after the project begins?
8. Will allowances be used for any materials or fixtures?
9. If there are allowances, what dollar amount is included for each one?
10. Can I receive the final scope, specifications, and price in writing before work begins?

Questions About Permits and Inspections

For work that requires permits, clarify responsibility before signing. A contractor who tells a homeowner to skip a required permit because it is faster or cheaper is creating risk that can outlast the project. Permit rules are local, so verify requirements with the appropriate building department when you are uncertain.

Also ask what inspections are expected and who handles corrections if an inspector finds a problem. The contract should not leave you guessing about permit fees or responsibility.

1. Does this project require a permit?
2. Who will apply for and pay for the permit?
3. Whose name will appear on the permit?
4. Which inspections are normally required for this work?
5. Who schedules the inspections?
6. What happens if an inspector requires a correction?
7. Are permit and inspection fees included in the estimate?

Questions About Schedule and Communication

“We can start next month” is not a complete schedule. Ask how long the work usually takes, what could delay it, whether crews will be working on other projects at the same time, and how you will be notified when the schedule changes. Weather-sensitive work may need flexibility, but the contractor should still have a process.

Communication problems often become more stressful than the construction itself. Decide before the job whether updates will come by text, email, phone, or through a project manager, and who has authority to approve changes.

1. What is your realistic start window?
2. How long should the project take once work begins?
3. Will the crew be on my project continuously or move between jobs?
4. What are the most common reasons this kind of project is delayed?
5. How will weather delays be handled?
6. How often will I receive progress updates?
7. Who should I contact if I have a question or problem?
8. What hours do you expect the crew to be on site?
9. Will utilities, water, parking, or access be interrupted?
10. How much notice will I get before a schedule change?

Questions About Payments and Change Orders

Payment schedules should track the progress of the work rather than putting most of the money at risk before the contractor has performed it. Deposit rules vary by jurisdiction and project type, so check local requirements. Be cautious when someone demands a very large upfront payment without a clear reason tied to custom materials or other documented costs.

Change orders deserve their own process. A verbal “while you are here, can you also…” can become an expensive disagreement if nobody documents the additional work, price, and schedule effect.

1. How much is due when the contract is signed?
2. What milestones trigger later payments?
3. What payment methods do you accept?
4. Are financing charges or credit-card fees involved?
5. Will I receive invoices or receipts for each payment?
6. How are change orders requested and approved?
7. Will I see the price of a change before the additional work begins?
8. Can a change order extend the schedule, and how will that be documented?
9. What amount remains unpaid until final completion?

Questions About Warranties, Cleanup, and the End of the Job

A warranty is only useful if you know what it covers, how long it lasts, and who provides it. Material manufacturers may offer one warranty while the contractor provides a separate workmanship warranty. Ask how claims are handled and whether registration is required.

Also define “finished.” Final cleanup, debris removal, touch-ups, inspections, manuals, spare materials, lien releases where appropriate, and a final walk-through are easier to address before the last payment than afterward.

1. What workmanship warranty do you provide?
2. Which manufacturer warranties apply to the materials?
3. Who registers manufacturer warranties if registration is required?
4. What is not covered by the warranty?
5. How do I request warranty service later?
6. Who is responsible for daily and final cleanup?
7. What protection will you use for floors, landscaping, furniture, or adjacent surfaces?
8. Will debris and old materials be hauled away?
9. Will we do a final walk-through before the last payment?
10. What documents will I receive when the job is complete?

Red Flags in the Answers

One imperfect answer does not automatically make a contractor a bad choice, but patterns matter. Be cautious with pressure to sign immediately, reluctance to put important terms in writing, vague answers about insurance, a refusal to identify who will actually perform the work, requests to pull a permit in your own name when the contractor should be responsible, or an estimate that is dramatically lower without a clear explanation.

Also pay attention to how the contractor handles a reasonable question. You are going to depend on this person when the project is noisy, inconvenient, expensive, or complicated. Dismissing basic questions before the contract is signed is not a promising communication test.

Compare the whole proposal rather than choosing automatically by price. Scope, materials, scheduling, supervision, payment structure, warranty, references, and communication can easily matter more than a small difference between bids.

How to Compare Contractor Bids Fairly

Put the estimates next to each other and compare line by line. If one includes demolition, disposal, permit fees, upgraded materials, protection of surrounding surfaces, and final cleanup while another simply says “complete project,” the totals are not directly comparable. Ask each contractor to clarify omissions before deciding that one is cheaper.

For materials, compare actual product lines or performance specifications when they matter. “Architectural shingles,” “vinyl windows,” “concrete,” or “paint” can describe products at very different price and quality levels. You do not need to become an expert in every material; you do need enough detail to know whether bids are based on similar assumptions.

Also compare the payment schedule. A bid that is slightly lower but requires most of the money before meaningful work has been completed may expose you to more risk. A clear schedule tied to documented milestones is easier to manage.

Questions to Ask Contractor References

References are more useful when you ask about the process, not merely whether the customer was happy. Ideally, speak with people whose projects resemble yours and were completed recently enough that they remember the details.

1. Was the final price close to the original contract, and what caused any changes?
2. Did the project start and finish close to the promised schedule?
3. How well did the contractor communicate when something changed?
4. Was the same crew on site consistently?
5. How were the home and property protected during the work?
6. Were there any surprises, and how did the contractor handle them?
7. Was the cleanup satisfactory?
8. Did you need warranty service afterward, and if so, how did the contractor respond?
9. What do you wish you had known before the project started?
10. Would you hire the same contractor again for a similar job?

No project is perfect. A reference who describes a problem and a professional resolution can be more informative than a vague “everything was great.”