How to Choose the Right Contractor for Your Project
Learn the essential questions to ask and red flags to watch for when hiring a home service professional.
Step 1: Verify the basics before you talk price
Any pro you consider should clear all of these in under five minutes:
- State license — search your state's contractor licensing board (most have a free public lookup). Confirm the license is active, in their legal name, and covers the scope of your project.
- General liability insurance — minimum $1M coverage. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) sent directly from their insurer, not a PDF they email you.
- Workers' compensation — if they have employees on your property and skip this, an injury on your job becomes your liability.
- Physical business address — not a P.O. box, not just a cell number. Drive by it if anything feels off.
Step 2: The 12 questions to ask every contractor
- How long have you been in business under this exact legal name?
- Can I see three references from jobs of similar size completed in the last 12 months?
- Will you pull the permits, or are you expecting me to?
- Who is the on-site supervisor and how often will they be there?
- Do you use employees or subcontractors? Are subs licensed and insured separately?
- What's your written workmanship warranty, and what voids it?
- What's your payment schedule? (Red flag: more than 10–25% upfront)
- How do you handle change orders — verbal, email, or signed addendum?
- What's your typical timeline, and what's your written policy if you fall behind?
- How do you protect the rest of my home (dust, plumbing, security) during work?
- Who handles cleanup and debris disposal?
- What happens if I'm not satisfied with a specific element of the work?
Step 3: Read the proposal like a contract (because it is one)
A legitimate proposal is at least 3–5 pages and includes:
- Detailed scope of work with specific materials (brand, model, color)
- Total price broken down by line item, not a single lump sum
- Start date, substantial completion date, and final completion date
- Payment schedule tied to milestones, not the calendar
- Allowance amounts (for items like tile, fixtures) clearly marked
- Change order procedure in writing
- Warranty terms — for both labor and manufacturer materials
- Lien release language
Step 4: Watch for these red flags
| Red Flag | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Door-to-door solicitation after a storm | "Storm chasers" disappear after collecting deposits. Reputable roofers don't cold-knock. |
| Pressure to decide today | Real pros are busy and will hold a quote for 30 days. |
| Cash-only or large upfront deposit | Standard upfront in most states is 10%, capped at $1,000–$3,000. |
| No physical address or unbranded vehicles | Indicators of an unregistered fly-by-night operation. |
| Bid that's 30%+ below others | Either a bait-and-switch or a corner-cutter who'll change-order you to death. |
| "Your permit isn't necessary" | It almost always is, and unpermitted work can void insurance and complicate resale. |
| Won't put guarantees in writing | If it's not in writing, it doesn't exist. |
Step 5: Get at least three bids — but not just for price
The cheapest bid almost never wins for a reason. Use multiple bids to learn the going rate, then weigh:
- Communication quality. Did they show up on time, listen, follow up? You're hiring this for weeks or months.
- Specificity. A vague proposal almost guarantees a vague (and growing) invoice.
- References that match your project. A pro who's done 200 bath remodels and 2 kitchens isn't your best kitchen choice.
- Online reviews across multiple platforms. Google, Yelp, BBB, Houzz, and your state board's complaint history.
Step 6: Understand the "good–fast–cheap" rule
You can pick two. A pro who's good and fast won't be cheap. A pro who's cheap and fast won't be good. Decide which two matter most before you start collecting bids — it'll save you weeks of confusion.
The bottom line
Vetting a contractor is genuinely hard work. That's why TrustyFix exists — every pro in our network has been through license verification, insurance verification, background checks, and ongoing review of customer feedback. Get matched with up to three vetted local pros in about two minutes, and let them compete for your project.
Sources & further reading
- FTC — Hiring a Contractor — federal consumer-protection guide; the basis for our red-flag list.
- Better Business Bureau — search business profiles, complaints, and government actions before signing.
- NAHB — How to Find a Professional Remodeler — questions to ask and credential checks.
- NASCLA — directory of state contractor-licensing boards for license lookups.
Frequently asked questions
Verify license number, ask for a Certificate of Insurance sent directly from their insurer, request three references for projects similar to yours, and ask for a written scope with milestone-based payments — never date-based.
For any project over $5,000, get at least three detailed written bids on identical scope. Be skeptical of the lowest bid by more than 15% — it usually signals omitted line items or a coming change-order.
Never. A typical schedule is 10% deposit, then milestone payments tied to specific completed phases (rough-in, drywall, substantial completion), with the final 10–15% held until the punch list is signed off.