Ten questions to ask before you hire any contractor

Most people pick a contractor on a gut feeling and a price. The gut feeling is worth something. The price, by itself, tells you almost nothing. These ten questions take about fifteen minutes on the phone and will tell you more than a week of reading reviews.

Before they come out

1. Are you licensed and insured for this kind of work, and can you send me proof? In Georgia, most trades above a small dollar threshold need a state license, and every contractor working on your property should carry general liability insurance. A real pro will have both and won't mind sending a photo of the certificate. "I've been doing this thirty years, I don't need a license" is an answer, and the answer is no.

2. Do you do this specific job all the time, or is it a stretch for you? A great deck builder is not automatically a great tile setter. Ask what portion of their work is jobs like yours. You want someone for whom your project is routine, not a first.

3. When could you realistically start, and how long would it take? Good contractors are usually booked out a few weeks. Someone who can start tomorrow in peak season is either very new, between jobs for a reason, or about to juggle you against three other sites.

Getting the quote

4. Can I get the estimate in writing, itemized? One number scrawled on the back of a card is not a quote. You want materials, labor, and any allowances broken out, so that when something changes you can see exactly what moved.

5. What's not included? This is where surprises live. Permits, debris haul-off, painting after the repair, moving the sprinkler line that's in the way. Ask directly: "What might come up that isn't in this number?"

6. How do you handle changes once we start? The answer you want: a written change order you both sign before the work happens, with the cost attached. The answer you don't want: "We'll settle up at the end."

Money and paper

7. What's the payment schedule? A deposit to hold the date and cover initial materials is normal — commonly 10 to 30 percent. Being asked for half or more up front, before anyone's lifted a tool, is a flag. Final payment should come after the work is done and you've looked at it.

8. Is there a warranty, and what does it cover? Most reputable contractors warranty their labor for at least a year; manufacturers warranty the materials separately. Get the term and what voids it in writing.

9. Will you pull the permits? For anything structural, electrical, or plumbing, a permit protects you — it means an inspector signs off on the work. A contractor who wants to skip permits to save you time is saving themselves an inspection.

The one that matters most

10. Can I talk to two or three people you did work like mine for in the last year? Not a reference sheet from 2019. Recent, similar, local. Then actually call them, and ask one question the contractor can't script: Would you hire them again?

If the answers are good

Get everything you discussed into the written agreement before you pay a deposit. A short, clear contract protects both of you, and a good contractor will already have one.