Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Contractor

Verify who will actually perform and supervise the work

Use the CSLB's official resources to check applicable California licensing and the business identity. Ask for insurance information appropriate to the project and confirm who supervises, who uses subcontractors and who communicates with you. A salesperson and the contracting company may not be the same party.

Request references relevant to comparable work and ask about scope, changes, communication and follow-through rather than only whether the customer liked the result. Check the agreement's business name and license information against the information you verified. Identify who is responsible for required permits.

Ask questions that reveal how the job will be managed

Review scope, selections, exclusions, schedule assumptions, payments, change orders, cleanup, inspections and coverage. Ask how progress is documented and how a dispute or callback is handled. Read cancellation terms and keep a complete signed copy. Do not rely on a presentation slide when the contract says something different.

Use the CSLB's current home-improvement contract guidance for payment and documentation requirements. Be cautious about pressure to pay before the agreed terms are clear or to avoid required permits. For uncertain contractual rights, get qualified advice before signing rather than assuming a standard practice is mandatory.

Verify the basics

Use official sources to confirm required licensing and ask for current insurance information as appropriate to the project.

Ask about the actual scope

Understand who performs the work, what is included, which permits may apply and how changes will be handled.

Read before signing

Review payment terms, schedule language, warranties, exclusions and cancellation provisions. Keep a complete copy of what you sign.

A practical example

Illustrative scenario only. These figures and situations are not local price averages, quotes or promises of results.

A contractor has strong photos but the quote excludes permits and does not explain change orders. Asking those questions before signing can prevent an undefined project from becoming a series of surprise additions. The goal is a complete agreement, not a checklist that merely confirms the company has a website.

Questions worth asking

Use these questions to test whether the explanation or proposal actually addresses your situation. Ask for a written answer when it changes the scope, price, responsibility or timeline. A confident sales presentation is not a substitute for a specific answer.

• Who is the contracting business and site supervisor?
• Which work is excluded?
• What documents support each payment?
• How are discoveries and callbacks handled?

Make a useful observation log

Write the location, date, conditions and change you noticed. Add a photo from a safe position and link any prior repair record. A new stain after rain, a problem during simultaneous appliance use or a recurring symptom after repair gives a professional better evidence than a label such as old house problems. Record what you could not observe rather than assuming it was fine.

Assign a next action and follow-up date. Some items can be monitored, others need a diagnosis and immediate hazards need an appropriate emergency response. Do not conceal a symptom with a cosmetic repair until the source is understood. At follow-up, verify the condition instead of marking it finished just because money was spent.

Budget and coordinate work without losing records

Separate urgent response, diagnosis, permanent work and optional improvements. Get a defined scope for each stage and ask what other work it depends on. Include access, restoration and inspections where relevant. Comparing full scope prevents an attractive initial price from excluding the cost of finishing the job.

Keep the contracting business, agreed work, dates, invoices and relevant approvals in your home file. Use official licensing and hiring resources for contractor questions. Manufacturer instructions establish equipment-specific maintenance needs; a general calendar is only a reminder. Share the records needed by the verified professional while keeping identification, account information and access codes secure.