A good contractor will welcome these questions. Anyone who dodges them is telling you something.
- Are you licensed and insured for this type of work? Can I see proof?
- Will you pull the necessary permits, or is that on me?
- Who will actually be on site — your crew or subcontractors?
- Can you provide references from recent, similar jobs?
- What's the detailed, written estimate — materials, labor and timeline?
- What's your payment schedule, and how much is due up front?
- What warranty do you offer on workmanship?
- How do you handle changes or surprises once work begins?
- What's your expected start and completion date?
- How will we communicate during the project?
If the answers are clear, documented and confident, you're probably in good hands. If they're vague or evasive, keep looking.