5 Questions to Ask Before You Hire Any Contractor

A bad contractor costs you twice: once for the job, and again for the fix. Ask these five questions before anyone touches your house.

1. “Can I see your license and insurance certificates?”

Not “are you licensed” — can I see it. A pro will have their license number on the truck and a current certificate of insurance in the email within the hour. If they dodge, you’re done.

2. “Who actually does the work?”

Their own crew, or whoever answered a text this morning? Neither answer is automatically wrong, but you deserve to know who’s in your house and who’s responsible when something goes sideways.

3. “What does the written quote include?”

The dangerous word in construction is allowance. If the quote says “flooring allowance: $2/sq ft” and your tile costs $6, that gap is yours. An itemized quote makes the real price visible up front.

4. “Who pulls the permits?”

The right answer is “we do.” A contractor who asks you to pull the permit as the homeowner is usually hiding from inspectors — and you inherit the liability.

5. “What happens if I’m not happy at the end?”

Listen for a process: a final walkthrough, a punch list, a written warranty. “Don’t worry, you’ll love it” is not a warranty.

Print this list. Any contractor worth hiring will respect you more for asking.