Hiring the wrong contractor is one of the most expensive mistakes a homeowner can make. The good news: most bad hires show warning signs long before the first invoice. A little homework up front protects your money, your timeline, and your home.
Confirm the license and insurance yourself
Ask for the contractor's license number and look it up with your state or local licensing board — don't just accept a card at face value. Then request a certificate of insurance showing both general liability and workers' compensation, and check that it's current. If a worker is injured on an uninsured job, the liability can land on you.
Check recent, relevant references
Any pro can hand you three glowing references. Ask specifically for jobs similar to yours, finished in the last year, and actually call them. Good questions: Did it finish on budget and on schedule? Were there surprises, and how were they handled? Would you hire them again? If you can, drive by or ask for photos of the finished work.
Read the contract before you sign anything
A trustworthy contractor puts everything in writing: scope of work, materials, start and completion dates, total price, and a payment schedule tied to milestones. Be wary of large upfront deposits — a reasonable deposit is a fraction of the total, not half. Never pay in full before the work is done.
Trust the red flags
Pressure to decide today, cash-only demands, no written estimate, a price that's dramatically lower than everyone else's, or reluctance to share a license number are all reasons to walk away. The right pro welcomes your questions rather than dodging them.