Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Contractor

On the first call

• Do you do this type of project regularly? About how many in the past year?
• Are you licensed for this work in my state or city? What is the license number?
• Do you carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation?
• Will you or your own crew do the work, or will it be subcontracted?
• How soon could you start, and how long does a project like mine usually take?
• Do you charge for estimates?

During the estimate visit

• What do you see that could change the price once work starts?
• Which materials or products do you recommend, and why?
• Will you pull the permits and schedule the inspections?
• Who will be my day-to-day contact, and how do you share updates?
• How do you protect floors, furniture and landscaping, and how do you clean up each day?
• Can I talk to two or three recent customers with a similar project?

Before you sign

• Is everything we discussed written into the contract, including exclusions?
• What is the payment schedule, and what milestone triggers each payment?
• How are change orders priced and approved?
• What does your workmanship warranty cover, for how long, and what voids it?
• Will you provide lien waivers from suppliers and subcontractors as you are paid?
• What happens if the project runs late?

Under the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule, many sales made at your home give you three business days to cancel. Ask the contractor for the cancellation notice that should come with the contract, and do not let work start before you are sure.

Project-specific questions

Each of our cost guides ends with questions written for that project. For example: roofing, windows, HVAC and bathroom remodeling. We also have guides to what a roofing estimate should include and what an HVAC quote should include.