How to choose a contractor: 10 questions to ask before you hire

1. Are you licensed for this work in my state?

Licensing rules vary by state and trade. Ask for the license number and verify it on your state’s licensing board website. On FixedPad, where required, license numbers are provided by the servicing company upon booking.

2. Are you insured?

Ask for proof of general liability insurance and, if they have employees, workers’ compensation. Without it, you could be liable if someone is hurt on your property.

3. Can I get a written, itemized estimate?

A good estimate lists materials, labor, permits, cleanup, and a timeline. Vague one-line quotes make it hard to compare and easy to add charges later.

4. Who pulls the permits?

The contractor should. Unpermitted work can cause problems with insurance claims, inspections, and selling your home.

5. What is the payment schedule?

Payments should be tied to completed milestones. Be cautious of anyone who asks for most of the money upfront or only accepts cash.

6. Who will actually do the work?

Ask whether the work is done by their own crew or subcontractors, and who your point of contact is.

7. What warranties do you offer?

Get both the manufacturer warranty on products and the contractor’s workmanship warranty in writing.

8. How do you handle changes or surprises?

Hidden damage happens. Ask how change orders are priced and approved, and insist they are in writing before extra work begins.

9. Can I see recent work or talk to references?

Photos of similar jobs and a couple of recent customers you can call are a good sign.

10. What is the timeline?

Ask when they can start, how long the job will take, and what could delay it, such as material lead times or weather.

Red flags

• Door-to-door offers right after a storm
• Pressure to sign today for a “special price”
• No written contract
• Requests for full payment upfront
• Unwilling to provide a license number or proof of insurance