15 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Contractor

Hiring a contractor is one of the bigger decisions most homeowners make. A kitchen, an addition, a new roof or a basement finish can take weeks or months and a serious share of your savings. Most of the problems people run into, from projects that stall halfway to bills that keep growing, can be traced back to something that was never asked or never written down at the start.

Use these questions in your first conversations with each contractor you are considering. Their answers, and how comfortable they are giving them, will tell you a lot.

Before you call: get your project straight

Contractors can only give you useful answers if they understand what you want. Before you start interviewing, write down:

• What you want done, room by room or item by item.
• What matters most to you: budget, timeline, finish quality, or keeping disruption low.
• Any photos of finishes or layouts you like.
• Rough dates you need to work around, such as a new baby, a holiday or a move.

Giving every contractor the same description is also the only way to compare their bids fairly.

Credentials and experience

1. Are you licensed in this state, and for this type of work?

Licensing rules for contractors differ widely across the US. Some states license general contractors at the state level, others leave it to cities or counties, and specialty trades like electrical and plumbing usually have their own licenses. Ask for the license number and check it with your state licensing board or local building department.

2. Are you insured?

Ask for proof of general liability insurance and, if they have employees, workers' compensation. Request a certificate of insurance and confirm it is current. Some homeowners ask to be named as a certificate holder so they are notified if the policy lapses.

3. Are you bonded?

Some states and localities require contractors to carry a license bond. A bond can give you a path to recover money if the contractor fails to meet certain obligations. Ask what kind of bond they have and what it covers.

4. How long have you been doing this kind of project?

A contractor who builds decks every week may not be the best choice for a full kitchen. Ask how many similar projects they have finished and whether they can show photos of them.

5. Can I speak with recent clients?

Ask for two or three references from the past year or two, ideally for similar work. When you call, ask whether the job finished on time and on budget, how problems were handled, and whether they would hire the contractor again.

Scope, schedule and people

6. Who will be on site every day?

Find out whether the contractor, a site supervisor or a crew lead will be there, and who your main point of contact is. Ask which parts of the work will be done by subcontractors.

7. Who handles permits and inspections?

Most structural, electrical, plumbing and mechanical work requires permits. The contractor should pull them in their own name. A contractor who asks you to pull the permit yourself may be trying to shift responsibility onto you.

8. What is the timeline, and what could delay it?

Ask for a start date, an estimated finish date, and the main stages in between. Ask what typically causes delays (back-ordered materials, inspections, weather) and how you will be told about them.

9. How will you protect my home?

Ask about dust control, floor protection, where materials will be stored, daily cleanup, and whether you can stay in the home during the work.

Money and the contract

10. Is this a fixed price, cost-plus, or time and materials?

With a fixed price, the contractor agrees to a total for the defined scope. With cost-plus or time and materials, you pay actual costs plus a markup or fee. Each has trade-offs; what matters is that you understand which one you are signing.

11. What is the payment schedule?

A reasonable schedule ties payments to completed stages of work, not to dates on a calendar. Be wary of large up-front payments. Some states limit how much a contractor can collect as a deposit before work starts; your state licensing board or consumer protection office can tell you the rules where you live.

12. How do you handle change orders?

Changes happen: you pick a different tile, or the crew finds rot behind a wall. Ask how changes are priced and approved. The answer you want is that every change is written down, priced, and signed by you before the work is done.

13. What is included in the price, and what is not?

Ask specifically about permits, debris removal, appliances, fixtures, paint, and final cleaning. Allowances (a set budget for items you choose later, such as lighting) should be listed with amounts.

14. What warranty do you provide?

Ask how long the contractor warranties their workmanship and what it covers, and get it in the contract. Manufacturer warranties on materials are separate.

15. How do you make sure subcontractors and suppliers are paid?

In many states, unpaid subcontractors and suppliers can file a lien against your property even if you paid the general contractor. Ask whether the contractor provides lien waivers as payments are made. If this is a large project, it is worth asking a licensed professional in your state how liens work locally.

What belongs in the written contract

Before you sign, make sure the contract includes:

• The contractor's name, address, phone and license number.
• A detailed description of the work and the materials, including brands or models where they matter.
• Start date, estimated completion date, and what happens if either slips.
• Total price, payment schedule and allowances.
• Who is responsible for permits and inspections.
• The change order process.
• Warranty terms.
• How disputes will be handled.

Read it carefully. If anything you agreed to verbally is missing, ask for it to be added before you sign.

Red flags

• Door-to-door offers, especially right after a storm.
• Pressure to sign today to "lock in" a price.
• Cash only, or payment requested in full before work begins.
• No written contract, or a contract that is vague about scope.
• A bid far below the others with no clear explanation.
• Reluctance to share a license number, insurance details, or references.

Start your shortlist

Browse construction companies and home renovation services in the directory, read what past customers say, and reach out to a few to start asking questions. You can also browse by city to find contractors who work in your area.