Guide
Questions to ask a contractor before you sign
The right questions turn a friendly estimate visit into a clear picture of who will do the work, what is included, how money moves and what happens when something goes wrong. Below is a practical list, grouped by topic, with the reason behind each question and the kind of answer that should put you at ease. Print it, bring it to every bid meeting, and ask every contractor the same things so the answers line up.
Before the questions: line up comparable bids
Questions pay off most when you have something to compare. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB), on its page on finding the right contractor, suggests getting at least three written bids built on the same plans, specifications and scope, and warns against automatically taking the lowest. If one contractor prices a mid-range vanity and another a custom one, the numbers tell you nothing.
Write a one-page description of the project first: rooms, what stays, what goes, the finishes you have in mind. Hand the same page to each bidder. Then take notes on how each person answers, not just what they say. Someone who listens, asks you questions back and puts answers in writing is usually the same person who runs a tidy job.
License and insurance
What is your license number, and which classification does it carry?
Why ask: in California the license has to match the work. A painter's license does not cover rewiring, and a project with several unrelated trades usually calls for a general building license. A good answer: the number, written on the bid, with a classification that fits your job and a business name that matches. Then look it up yourself; our license lookup guide walks through every field on the record.
Can I see your insurance certificate, and does it cover workers' compensation?
Why ask: if a worker is hurt or your property is damaged, you want someone else's policy to answer for it. CSLB's contractor-finding page says to ask for a certificate of insurance or the name of the carrier and agent, that workers' compensation is required when a contractor has employees, and that general liability insurance is not required by law but covers damage to your property. It adds that a licensed contractor must describe both types of insurance in the written contract. A good answer: a current certificate sent straight from the agent, and a plain explanation of how damage would be handled if there is no liability policy.
Who will be at my house every day, and are they your employees?
Why ask: a contractor who says "no employees" on the license record but shows up with a crew has a gap in coverage. CSLB's workers' compensation page says the requirement applies even with one employee, and that some trades, such as concrete, heating and air conditioning, roofing and tree service, must carry it whether or not they have employees. A good answer: names or roles, and a record that agrees with who actually shows up.
For a job in Dallas–Fort Worth, which state licenses apply?
Why ask: Texas licenses some trades and not others. The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation's electricians page says anyone doing non-exempt electrical work must be licensed and must work through a licensed electrical contractor, and the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners licenses plumbers and offers a public license search. A good answer: the names and license numbers of the electrician and plumber on your job, which you can check on those boards' own sites.
The scope of the work
What exactly is included, and what is not?
Why ask: most disputes start with an item each side assumed the other was covering: patching walls after plumbing, hauling the old tub, painting new trim. A good answer: a written line-by-line scope with an "excluded" list, so you can see the gaps before you sign, not after.
Who buys the materials, and are brand, model and color written down?
Why ask: "tile floor" can mean many things. If you are buying fixtures yourself, you also need to know who is responsible when one arrives broken or late. A good answer: specific products named in the bid, or a clear allowance for items you will pick later, and a plan for who orders, receives and inspects deliveries.
What happens if you open a wall and find a problem?
Why ask: rot, old wiring or a leaking pipe can turn up in any remodel. CSLB's Contracts and Binding Agreements page says added or removed work, substituted materials and schedule changes go on a written change order with the price adjustment, and that a signed change order becomes part of the contract. A good answer: "We stop, show you, price it in writing, and continue only after you sign." Our guide to California home improvement contracts covers the rest of what the paperwork must say.
Price and payments
Is this a fixed price, and what could make it change?
Why ask: some bids are firm, some carry allowances, and some are estimates that move with time and materials. A good answer: a clear statement of which parts are fixed, which are allowances and what happens if an allowance runs over.
How much do you need at signing, and when are the other payments due?
Why ask: California caps the down payment on home improvement work at 10 percent of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less, and CSLB's homeowner checklist advises paying only as work is completed, not before. A good answer: a deposit within that cap, and a schedule where each payment matches a stage you can walk out and see, such as "rough plumbing passed inspection."
What payment methods do you accept?
Why ask: a paper trail protects both of you. A good answer: check, card or bank transfer with a receipt for each payment. Pressure to pay in cash, or to make a check out to a person rather than the business on the license, deserves a second look.
Schedule
When will you start, and when will you finish?
Why ask: the contract should state both dates. CSLB's checklist lists start and end dates among the things to confirm before signing. A good answer: real dates, plus an honest note about what the schedule depends on, such as permit approval or special-order materials.
How many other jobs will you be running at the same time?
Why ask: a crew split across several sites can leave yours empty for days. A good answer: a straight number, and a clear description of what a normal work day at your house looks like and how many hours the crew is on site.
Who is my day-to-day contact, and how fast do you return calls?
Why ask: questions come up daily during a remodel. A good answer: one named person with a phone number, and an agreed way to send photos and decisions, such as a shared text thread.
Subcontractors and suppliers
Which parts of the job will subcontractors do, and are they licensed?
Why ask: on many projects the general contractor does some of the work and hires out the rest. CSLB's homeowner's guide to preventing mechanics liens suggests making sure your contractor hires only licensed subcontractors, checking their licenses too, and getting a list of every subcontractor, laborer and supplier. A good answer: the list, with names and license numbers, before work starts.
How will I know your subs and suppliers have been paid?
Why ask: an unpaid subcontractor or supplier can file a lien on your home even when you paid the main contractor in full. A good answer: a willing "yes" to conditional and unconditional lien releases with each payment, or to joint checks. The contract guide linked above explains how those work.
Permits and inspections
Who pulls the permit, and is the fee in your price?
Why ask: CSLB's checklist asks whether the contract requires the contractor to get any needed permits before work starts, and whether permit fees are included. A contractor who suggests skipping the permit is asking you to carry the risk. A good answer: "We pull it, the fee is in the bid, and nothing starts until it is issued."
Which inspections will this job need, and will you be there for them?
Why ask: inspections usually happen before walls are closed, so a missed one can mean opening finished work. A good answer: a list of expected inspections tied to the schedule, and a promise that payments for those stages wait until each one passes.
In Dallas or Fort Worth, are you registered with the city?
Why ask: Fort Worth's contractor registration page says anyone obtaining a building, mechanical, plumbing or electrical permit needs a valid registration on file, with an exemption for owners working on the single-family home they own and live in. Dallas runs residential permits through its DallasNow portal and lists a homeowner's exemption form for contractor registration on its residential permits page. A good answer: yes, with the registration in the business's name, and the contractor, not you, pulling the permit.
Warranty
What does your warranty cover, for how long, and is it written down?
Why ask: a spoken promise is hard to enforce. Workmanship and the manufacturers' product warranties are separate things. A good answer: a written warranty in the contract that names what it covers, what it excludes and how long it lasts, plus copies of product warranties and registration cards handed over at the end.
If something fails after you leave, who do I call and what happens?
Why ask: the real test of a warranty is the callback. A good answer: a named contact and a plain description of how a warranty visit gets scheduled.
Cleanup and protecting the house
How will you protect the floors, furniture and the rooms you are not working in?
Why ask: dust travels. A good answer: floor protection along the work path, plastic barriers at doorways, and a plan for the heating and air system so dust is not pulled through the house.
Where do the dumpster, materials and portable toilet go, and who hauls debris?
Why ask: CSLB's contracts page says to put every agreed term in writing, including cleanup, debris removal and special requests. A good answer: spots agreed in advance, daily sweep-up, and final debris removal written into the scope.
Answers that should make you pause
- "We don't need a contract for a job this size" on work over $500.
- "Pay in full now and we'll get you on the schedule."
- "You pull the permit as the owner; it's easier." That shifts the responsibility to you.
- "Our insurance is fine," with no certificate to show.
- Different answers to the same question at the first meeting and the second.
- Pressure to decide today because a price or a slot "won't last."
None of these proves a problem on its own, but each is worth a follow-up question before you go further.
How we help with the shortlist
Tell us about the project for free, and we call or email you back to talk through what kind of contractor it needs and which of these questions matter most for your job. Contractor Near Me does not do the work and is not a licensed contractor. We do not interview contractors for you, give prices or vouch for anyone; the questions, and the license lookups, stay in your hands.
Hiring questions homeowners ask
How many bids should I get before choosing a contractor?
CSLB suggests at least three written bids, each based on the same plans, specifications and scope of work, so the prices compare fairly. It also cautions against automatically taking the lowest one; a bid far below the rest can mean missing work or a mistake.
Is it rude to ask a contractor for proof of insurance?
No. CSLB tells homeowners to ask for a certificate of insurance or the name of the carrier and agent. Contractors who carry coverage are used to the request and can have their agent send a current certificate.
What if a contractor will not answer some of these questions?
Treat a refusal as an answer. A contractor may not know a start date until a permit is issued, but should still say so plainly. Someone who will not give a license number, show insurance or put the scope in writing is telling you how the job will go.
Sources: CSLB, How Do I Find the Right Licensed Contractor?; CSLB, Homeowner Checklists; CSLB, Contracts and Binding Agreements; CSLB, Workers' Compensation Requirements; CSLB, A Homeowner's Guide to Preventing Mechanics Liens; TDLR, Electricians; Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, home page and license search; City of Fort Worth, Contractor Registration; City of Dallas, Residential Permits.