12 questions to ask before hiring a contractor

Before you sign, run through these questions on licensing, insurance, scope, and payment so you avoid the common, expensive surprises.

A good contractor will happily answer these. Hesitation on the basics is itself an answer. Use this before you commit — and especially before any money changes hands.

Credentials and cover

• Are you licensed for this work, and can I see the number?
• Do you carry liability insurance and workers' comp? Can I get a certificate?
• Who exactly will be on site — your crew or subcontractors?

Scope and price

• Can you put the full scope in writing, including what's not included?
• Is this a fixed price or an estimate, and what would change it?
• Who handles permits, and is that in the price?
• What's the timeline, and what happens if it slips?

Track record

• Can you share two or three recent jobs like mine I can contact?
• Is the work guaranteed, and for how long?

Payment and protection

• What's the payment schedule? (Be wary of large deposits up front.)
• How do we handle changes once work starts?
• What's your process if something isn't right?

A note on group jobs

When several homes hire together, you have more leverage to ask for these in writing — and a standard, shared scope makes it easier to compare bids fairly. Never pay through an intermediary that asks for bank details, card numbers, or one-time codes. Pay the vendor directly, on a sensible schedule, against work actually done.