DoorFly.com: 10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Contractor

Whether you’re hiring a contractor for a small project or for something as large as a building a new home, you want to hire someone that you can trust and who will provide you with quality workmanship. You can make sure your contractor will live up to your expectations by interviewing contractors before you hire them and asking them these ten important questions.

Can you provide references? Ask for the names and contact information of former clients who have used the contractor for similar projects. A legitimate contractor should be happy and willing to provide you with these references. Don’t settle for receiving the information though, make the phone calls and find out what the clients have to say.
Will you provide a detailed written estimate? Don’t settle for a verbal quote. Ask for the estimate in writing. In addition, require that the estimate detail out everything that will and will not be included in the price being quoted. Beware of contractors who will not provide this for you. The more detail you receive, the better.
Can you provide proof of insurance? Contractors should all be able to provide you with proof of liability insurance. If they have employees, they should also provide proof of workers compensation insurance. This proof of insurance should come direct from their insurance agent and be addressed to you. A copy of their policy does not prove that the insurance is still in force.
Are you licensed in my city? Know what the contractor licensing requirements are for your state and city. Ask for those license numbers from the contractor. Most legitimate contractors will have their license number printed on their business cards.
Will you provide a written contract? Do not accept a handshake contract. Ask for a full written contract that is signed by both you and the contractor. The contract should provide the same detail as the final estimate or state that the contract is based on the estimate specifications. The contract should include in writing anything you and the contractor have agreed to verbally such as time frame for completion, scope of work, payment terms, procedures for handling changes to the contract amount or scope of work.
How will change orders be handled? It is very seldom that a contract is completed without any changes happening to the scope of work. It is important that these changes be handled as professionally as the contract itself. Whenever you ask for or agree to a change in the scope of work, ask for a written change order that states the details of the change and the price of that change. This should be done even if the change is being done at no cost or is a decrease in the contract amount. These written changes should be provided before the change on the project is accomplished, or at the very least, be provided the same day the change in work is agreed upon. Without this, clients receive many unexpected charges at the completion of the project. This is one of the most common issues that clients experience with contractors, even with the most experienced and trusted of contractors.
Who will be responsible for obtaining needed permits? This is one of the items that should be detailed out in your estimate or contract. Most professional contractors will include the price of all necessary permits in their contract price and they will apply for the permits themselves.
Who will actually be doing the work? Do not assume that because you hired a specific contractor that he or his employees will be the ones that show up to do the work. Some contractors will subcontract their work out to others. If the contractor will be hiring subcontractors, ask for the names of all subcontractors who will be working on your project and what types of work they will be doing.
What will the payment schedule be? Never pay the contractor in full before the work is 100% complete. A down payment on a contract is not unusual, however if they are asking for a large downpayment of 50% or more, be sure that this is customary and that you have already qualified them as a trusted contractor by following through on the other items on this list. If the project will extend over several months, determine what the payment schedule will be before the work begins.
Will you provide lien waivers for all materials and labor? Request that your contractor provide lien waivers from their suppliers and subcontractors showing that they have used your payments to pay for the materials and labor that have been used on your project. It is best to hold your final payment on a project until you have received lien waivers from all contributors to your project. This protects you from having a lien placed on your home by a supplier who was not paid by your contractor. A final lien waiver should be received from the contractor themselves once you pay your final balance on the contract as well.

Don’t be talked into working with someone on a handshake contract just because they seem like a nice guy. If your contractor has nothing to hide and truly knows his business he will be able and willing to provide you with all ten of these important protections for contractor clients.