Choose a contractor the way you’d choose anyone you’re trusting with your house and a large check: verify the basics in writing, talk to people they’ve worked for, and pay attention to how they communicate before the contract is signed — it’s the best preview of how they’ll communicate after.
The checklist
- Written estimate, always. Scope and cost on paper before work starts. A number quoted verbally from the driveway isn’t an estimate; it’s a guess.
- Insurance, stated plainly. Ask directly whether they carry liability insurance and how their workers are covered. A professional answers without flinching.
- Licensing where it applies. Requirements differ across metro cities and by trade — ask which licenses the project needs and who holds them.
- Permits in the plan. If a contractor suggests skipping permits to save time or money, that tells you everything you need to know.
- References you actually call. Two or three recent clients. Ask: did the schedule hold, how were surprises handled, would you hire them again?
- A payment schedule tied to progress. Reasonable deposit, then payments tracking completed stages. Be wary of anyone wanting most of the money before most of the work.
- One accountable point of contact. Know who answers the phone when something needs a decision.
The pattern behind every item
Each of these is really the same test: does this contractor put things in writing and answer direct questions directly? The ones who do tend to build the way they communicate. When you’re ready to run the test on us, here’s how our process works — and the first walk-through is exactly where you should ask all of this.