How to choose a contractor: start with what you want
Knowing how to choose a contractor comes down to one idea: the person who works in your home should be your choice. Not a name picked at random, and not just whoever is free that day. Start by writing down what you want done, which rooms are involved and when you would like it finished.
This guide works whether you have no quotes yet or already have several good ones from companies that can start soon. Use it to check every option the same way, then hire the one you trust most.
A step-by-step contractor checklist
- Write the scope. List the work room by room, add photos and rough measurements, and note the finishes you like.
- Pick the right kind of pro. A handyman, a specialty trade, a general contractor or a design-build firm. Our guide to remodeling contractors explains who fits which job.
- Get several bids on the same scope. Same written description, same photos, same questions.
- Look at the pro, not just the price. Their profile, their reviews and photos of past jobs like yours.
- Check the license. Look it up with your state, city or county if your job needs one.
- Check the insurance. Ask for the certificate to be sent to you by the insurer.
- Call references. Recent customers with similar projects.
- Compare bids line by line. Scope, materials, allowances, schedule, payments and warranty.
- Meet the person who will run the job. In person, by phone or by message.
- Get it all in writing. A signed contract, a payment schedule tied to finished work, and every change written down.
Questions to ask a contractor
Ask every pro the same questions and write down the answers. How they answer tells you as much as what they say.
- Who will be doing the work in my home each day?
- Will you use subcontractors, and for which parts of the job?
- Who is my contact from start to finish, and how fast do you usually reply?
- Have you done jobs like mine? Can I see photos and talk to those customers?
- Does my job need a permit, and will you pull it in your name?
- Can your insurance company send me your certificate of insurance?
- Does my state or city require a license for this work, and what is your license number?
- What exactly is included in your bid, and what is not?
- Which items are allowances, and how did you set them?
- When can you start, and how long will the job take?
- What is the payment schedule, and what is due before work starts?
- How do you handle changes, and surprises found once a wall is opened?
- How will you protect my floors and furniture, and how is cleanup handled?
- What does your warranty cover, for how long, and is it in writing?
- Will you give me lien waivers as I make payments?
Who will be in your home?
Hiring a contractor means letting people into your home, sometimes for weeks. Ask who those people are. Some companies have their own crew, some hire subcontractors for most of the work, and some send a different crew each day. None of that is wrong, but you deserve to know before you sign.
- Ask for the name of the lead on site and how to reach them.
- Ask which trades will be subcontracted and how the contractor checks those crews.
- Agree on working hours, parking, which bathroom the crew can use, and how pets and kids stay safe.
- Decide who gets a key or a door code, and when it is changed back.
When you can talk directly with the person who does the work, questions get answered faster and details are less likely to get lost.
Check the insurance certificate and the license
Insurance. Do not settle for a photo of a certificate. Ask the contractor to have their insurance company or agent send the certificate of insurance straight to you. Check that the business name matches the contract, the dates cover your project, and the coverage includes general liability and, where your state requires it, workers' compensation. If anything looks off, call the insurer.
License. Many states, and some cities and counties, license contractors or certain trades. Search your state contractor licensing board online for the business name or license number, check that it is active, and see whether complaints are listed. Not every state licenses every trade, so ask your city or county what your job requires.
Compare bids apples to apples
Bids only compare fairly when they price the same work. Line up these items before you look at the totals:
| Line up | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Scope | The same rooms and tasks in every bid. |
| Materials | Named types and finishes, not just "materials." |
| Allowances | Realistic for what you want, not a low number that makes the bid look cheaper. |
| Permits | Who pulls them and whether they are included. |
| Schedule | The start date and how long the job takes. |
| Payments | Tied to finished work, not paid mostly up front. |
| Warranty | What it covers and for how long, in writing. |
Our guide to remodeling estimates explains allowances and exclusions in more detail.
Communication matters as much as price
How a contractor communicates before you hire them is usually how they will communicate during the job. Notice how quickly they reply, whether their answers are clear and in writing, and whether they listen to what you want or push what they want to sell.
- One point of contact who knows your job.
- A clear way to get updates: messages, calls or a weekly check-in.
- Straight answers about problems, delays and changes in cost.
Trust your gut
Paperwork matters, and so does how you feel. If a pro rushes you, dodges a question, or the story changes from one call to the next, take that seriously. Pressure to sign today, a request for most of the money up front, or no written contract are all reasons to slow down. You can always take more time before you sign. A good contractor will still be there next week.
Choose your contractor on BidHandyman
Post your project free with photos and details. Only pros approved by BidHandyman can bid, and the bids come from pros near you. See each pro first, their profile and their reviews, ask your questions by message, compare the bids with any quotes you already have, and hire the one you choose, with no obligation. Post your project.