A ten-minute conversation filters out most bad hires — if you ask the right questions. Here are the 15 we recommend, grouped by what they reveal, with the answers a good contractor gives.
1) "What is your license number?" — they should recite it without hesitation. 2) "Can you send a current COI for liability and workers’ comp?" — yes, same day. 3) "How long have you worked in this trade locally?" — local history means local references and supplier relationships. 4) "Will you pull the permits?" — the right answer is yes; contractors who ask YOU to pull permits are often dodging inspections tied to their license.
5) "Who will actually be on-site — you, employees, or subs?" 6) "Who supervises daily?" 7) "How many similar projects have you completed in the last year?" 8) "What does my quote include and exclude?" — listen for unprompted mentions of prep work. 9) "What could make this project cost more, realistically?" — honest contractors name specifics (hidden rot, panel capacity, subfloor condition) instead of saying "nothing".
10) "What payment schedule do you propose?" — milestones tied to completed work, small deposit. 11) "How do you handle change orders?" — written and priced before the work happens. 12) "When can you start, and what is your realistic completion window?" 13) "How many other active projects will you have during mine?" — more than 3–4 for a small crew means your job waits when another slips.
14) "What warranty do you offer on labor?" — one year minimum is standard; the best offer two or more, in writing. 15) "Will you provide lien waivers at final payment?" — this protects you from subcontractors filing liens if the contractor fails to pay them. A pause on this question is a red flag.
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Get 3 Free Quotes"Can you send me your license number and certificate of insurance today?" The answer — and the speed of the follow-through — predicts the whole working relationship.