You're about to hand someone the keys to your house and a pile of your money. That's a big deal. Most people learn this the hard way, so let's skip that part.
Licensing & Insurance Questions
Ask for their license number before they even give you a price. Look it up on your state's licensing board website yourself. If they can't produce a current license on the spot, walk. For insurance, you need proof of general liability and workers' comp. Call their insurance agent to verify the policy is active and covers your job site. No exceptions.
Experience & References Questions
Ask how many projects like yours they've finished in the last two years. Vague answers mean no. Then ask for three recent references from jobs that finished at least six months ago. Call every single one. Ask about surprises, cleanup, and whether the person showed up when promised. Skip the Yelp reviews. Real references tell you more than any star rating.
Pricing & Timeline Questions
Get at least three quotes. If one is way lower than the others, that's a red flag, not a deal. Ask for a line-item breakdown of materials and labor. A blank estimate means they're guessing. For timeline, ask what happens if they run late. Get a start date and a finish date in writing. Watch out for anyone who won't commit to a schedule.
Contract Questions
Read the whole contract before you sign. Look for the payment schedule, the scope of work, and the change-order process. Never pay more than 10% upfront. Final payment should come after the final walkthrough, not before. Make sure the contract says who pulls the permits. If they ask you to pull them, find someone else.
Once you've vetted a few candidates, compare local general contractors on RatingsNearMe to see how they stack up.