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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Before you sign a home-improvement contract, verify the contractor’s identity, license and insurance; compare at least two written proposals on the same scope; and make every promise, date, material and payment milestone part of a complete contract. Do not pay the full price up front, and check the law that applies where your project and signing take place.
The questions below are designed for U.S. homeowners. Licensing, permits, deposit limits, contract language and cancellation rights vary by state, county, project and signing location, so use the relevant government or consumer-protection office for a local answer.
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1. Start with the questions that can stop a bad hire
Ask these before discussing a price in detail:
- What is your full legal business name, street address and phone number?
- What license does this work require here, and what is your license number?
- Where can I verify that license with the state or county?
- Can you provide current proof of liability insurance and any other coverage required for this work?
- Can you provide references for projects similar to mine?
- Who will supervise the job, and who will perform each part of it?
- Will you obtain the required permits, or is that my responsibility?
- Will every promise in our conversations appear in the written proposal and contract?
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) advises homeowners to consider licensed and insured contractors, verify a license with state or county government, ask for proof of insurance, seek trusted referrals and check complaints and reviews critically. See the FTC’s home-improvement scam guidance.
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Confirm the legal identity
Write down the exact business name, address and phone number from the proposal. A salesperson’s mobile number or a trade name alone is not enough to identify the contracting business. Use contact information you find independently when checking a license or complaint history; do not rely only on a link or number supplied by a door-to-door representative.
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Check the license that applies to your project
There is no single nationwide contractor license. Requirements can depend on the state, county, city, trade and project value. Ask which license is required, record the number, and confirm its status and scope with the issuing government office. A license check is a verification step, not a guarantee of workmanship or financial reliability.
Ask for current insurance evidence
Request a current certificate or other proof of insurance and confirm that the named business matches the contractor in your proposal. Ask what the policy covers and whether subcontractors carry their own coverage. If the contractor will not provide credentials, pause the project rather than accepting a verbal assurance.
Investigate references, complaints and reviews
Ask for several recent customers who had work comparable to yours. Ask those homeowners whether the agreed scope changed, whether the schedule was realistic, how payment milestones worked and how the contractor handled defects or disagreements.
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3. Compare written estimates on identical work
Obtain more than one written estimate. Comparing totals is useful only when the proposals describe the same work, materials and assumptions. The FTC says not to choose automatically on the lowest bid and to ask about a large price difference.
| Comparison point | What each proposal should state | Question to ask when they differ |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Every included task and every exclusion | Which work is omitted, and who will perform it? |
| Materials | Brands, grades, quantities, finishes and installation method | Is the lower price based on a different product or allowance? |
| Price | Total price plus itemized labor, materials, allowances and fees | What assumption explains the difference? |
| Schedule | Estimated start, completion and major stages | What event could move these dates? |
| Permits | Who obtains each permit and who pays the fee | Is this responsibility included in the price? |
| Payments | Deposit, milestone amounts and timing | What completed stage triggers each payment? |
| Changes | Written approval process and price calculation | How will an unexpected condition be documented? |
| Warranty | What is covered, for how long and how claims are made | Who handles a defect caused by a subcontractor or product? |
A large difference can reflect different quantities, hidden exclusions, permit assumptions or a materially different product. Ask each contractor to explain the difference in writing rather than asking one to match a number without matching the scope.
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4. Questions that define the scope, materials and schedule
Scope and exclusions
- What exact work is included from preparation through cleanup?
- What is excluded, including demolition, disposal, repair of hidden damage, painting, finish work and utility relocation?
- Who supplies fixtures, appliances or owner-selected finishes?
- What happens if existing conditions differ from what was visible during the estimate?
Materials and allowances
- Which brands, model numbers, grades, colors and quantities are included?
- Are any items allowances rather than fixed selections?
- When must I choose finishes, and how will a choice above or below an allowance change the price?
- Are delivery, storage, waste and installation included?
Timing and supervision
- What is the estimated start date and completion date?
- What are the stages of work, and which trades or subcontractors are involved?
- Who will supervise the site each day?
- How will weather, inspections, material shortages or hidden conditions affect the schedule?
- How often will I receive progress updates, and who is my day-to-day contact?
Dates should be labeled estimates unless the contract creates a specific commitment. Ask how delays will be reported and recorded instead of relying on a promise that the job will be “done quickly.”
5. Resolve permits and local requirements before work starts
Ask which permits, inspections and approvals your project needs and put responsibility for each one in writing. Confirm whether permit fees are included in the estimate. A contractor who asks you to obtain a permit may be creating a serious risk: the FTC lists requests that homeowners obtain required permits as a warning sign.
Call the building or licensing department yourself to confirm the requirement, the named applicant and the inspection sequence. Local rules can affect who may pull a permit, what work requires a licensed trade and whether an owner-builder assumption changes your obligations. Do not treat a contractor’s interpretation as the final legal answer.
6. Make the contract complete before you sign
The FTC recommends a written contract even where state law might not require one. Read the entire document, fill every blank, and keep a complete copy with all attachments, specifications and exhibits. Do not sign a document that leaves a price, scope, date or payment term open.
| Contract element | What to put in writing |
|---|---|
| Contractor identity | Legal business name, address, phone number and license number where applicable |
| Project description | Address, detailed scope, drawings or specifications, materials, quantities and exclusions |
| Schedule | Estimated start and completion dates, work stages and how delays are handled |
| Price | Total price, itemized labor and materials, allowances, taxes, permit fees and disposal charges |
| Payment schedule | Deposit, each progress amount, the completed stage that triggers it and final payment conditions |
| Changes | Written change-order procedure, approval authority and how additions or credits are calculated |
| Permits | Party responsible for applications, inspections and fees |
| Subcontractors | Who may be used, who supervises them and how their work is coordinated |
| Warranty | Coverage, duration, exclusions and the written process for making a claim |
| Disputes and notices | How to report incomplete work or a dispute and the address for written notices |
Make sure verbal promises about cleanup, protection of floors and landscaping, daily access, working hours, pets, security, substitutions and completion standards are included. Initial any agreed handwritten changes and attach the final estimate so there is one consistent record.
7. Control payment risk
Set a deposit you can justify
Do not pay the entire project price up front. Ask your state or local consumer agency whether the law limits a contractor’s deposit; the limit can vary by jurisdiction and project. A deposit should be tied to a stated startup need, not to a demand for immediate access to all of your money.
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Use milestones tied to completed work
Each progress payment should identify the stage it pays for—for example, a clearly defined installation or inspection milestone—and the amount due. Decide how you will inspect and approve that stage before releasing funds. Keep invoices, receipts, photographs and copies of approvals with the contract.
Choose a recoverable payment method
Do not accept pressure to pay in cash or by a method that is difficult to reverse. In disaster-repair guidance, the FTC states: “Pay by credit card or check, never by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or in cash.” The same page is the FTC’s guidance after weather emergencies and natural disasters. A card or check does not eliminate risk, but it creates a clearer record than cash or an irreversible transfer.
Consider staged release after a disaster
For disaster repairs, the FTC describes asking a bank or credit union about a certificate-of-completion arrangement. In that setting, funds can be released by stage after you approve the work. Ask the financial institution how the arrangement works, what documentation is required and what happens if a stage is disputed. This is an option for that context, not a universal requirement for every renovation.
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Scrutinize financing offers
If the contractor offers financing, ask for the lender’s name, total amount financed, interest rate, fees, payment schedule, late charges and whether the financing is optional. Do not sign a financing agreement, transfer a deed or grant a security interest until you understand the legal and financial consequences. Seek trusted professional advice for an unusual deed or financing request.
8. Put changes, delays and disagreements on a paper trail
Unexpected conditions are common in renovation, but an unexpected condition should not become an unapproved bill. Require a written change order before extra work begins. It should describe the added or deleted work, material and labor changes, revised price, effect on the completion date and signatures or other approval from both sides.
Ask how the contractor will notify you of a delay, who decides whether work can continue, and how temporary protection or site security will be handled. For incomplete or defective work, take dated photographs, send a factual written notice and keep copies of letters, emails, invoices and receipts. Your contract should identify where a formal complaint or notice must be sent.
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9. Understand cancellation rights before signing
Do not assume every home-improvement contract has the same cancellation period. The FTC describes a written three-business-day cancellation statement for certain agreements signed in your home or somewhere away from the seller’s permanent place of business. Conditions and exceptions apply, and state rules vary.
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Ask:
- Where exactly will the contract be signed?
- Does this transaction qualify for a cancellation right under federal or state law?
- What notice must be sent, to whom and by what deadline?
- Is there a required cancellation form, address or delivery method?
- What happens to a deposit, ordered materials or financing if I cancel lawfully?
Read the cancellation language in the contract and verify it with the appropriate state or local consumer-protection authority. If you believe a deadline is running, send any required notice exactly as the law and contract specify and keep proof of delivery.
10. Recognize pressure tactics and stop safely
Walk away or pause the decision when a contractor:
- Demands an immediate decision or offers a discount only if you sign now.
- Insists on the entire price up front or cash only.
- Claims to have leftover materials and uses that claim to create urgency.
- Arrives after a storm and refuses to provide verifiable credentials, references or a written contract.
- Brings a blank contract or asks you to sign before the scope and price are complete.
- Requests payment by wire transfer, gift card, payment app, cryptocurrency or cash.
- Asks you to obtain permits that should be handled by the contractor.
- Asks you to transfer a deed or sign financing you do not understand.
The FTC’s plain advice is: “Don’t let anyone pressure you into signing any document.” Verify the business and license independently, obtain a complete written proposal and consult a trusted adviser when a deed, financing agreement or unusual legal term is involved.
11. A practical way to compare finalists
After verifying credentials, place the proposals side by side and answer the same questions for each contractor. This is a homeowner’s organizing framework, not an official government scoring system.
| Decision area | Evidence to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Credentials | License verification, insurance evidence and relevant references | Shows whether basic qualifications can be independently checked |
| Scope clarity | Included tasks, exclusions, materials and allowances | Prevents a low bid from winning by leaving out necessary work |
| Price transparency | Total and itemized costs, fees and assumptions | Makes differences explainable before signing |
| Schedule | Start, completion, stages and delay process | Sets practical expectations for access and household disruption |
| Payment safety | Deposit, milestones, approval process and payment method | Limits the amount at risk before work is completed |
| Change control | Written change-order steps and authority to approve | Stops surprise work from becoming surprise debt |
| Communication | Supervisor, contact method and update frequency | Creates a route for decisions and documented notices |
| Professional conduct | Answers to questions, willingness to provide documents and absence of pressure | Reveals how the relationship may function when problems arise |
Choose the proposal you understand and can manage, not simply the smallest total. If a contractor will not answer a basic question or put a promise in writing, the uncertainty is itself a decision factor.
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- Confirm the legal business name, address, phone number and applicable license number.
- Verify the license with the relevant state or county office and review insurance evidence.
- Call references for comparable work and check trusted complaint sources.
- Read the final scope, exclusions, materials, allowances and cleanup obligations.
- Confirm estimated start and completion dates, stages, supervision and communication.
- Confirm permit responsibility, inspection responsibility and fee allocation.
- Check the total price, itemized costs, deposit and each milestone payment.
- Confirm that changes require written approval before extra work starts.
- Read warranty, dispute, notice and cancellation terms.
- Fill every blank, attach all specifications and initial agreed edits.
- Sign only after you understand every term, and keep a complete copy.
13. If you are already worried after signing
Stop making additional payments until you understand what the contract requires, except where a legal or safety obligation requires immediate action. Gather the signed contract, estimates, change orders, invoices, proof of payment, photographs, messages and permit records. Compare the contractor’s demand with the agreed milestone and send a written, factual request for clarification or correction.
Contact the relevant state or local licensing and consumer-protection authorities for guidance on licensing, deposits, cancellation and complaint procedures. If the issue involves a deed, financing, a threatened lien or substantial disputed money, obtain advice from a qualified local professional who can review your documents and jurisdiction.
14. Keep an organized project record
Use a dedicated folder or notebook to record every question, answer, estimate, license check, insurance document, reference call, payment, inspection and change order. Date entries and keep copies of letters and documents. Organized records do not verify a contractor or replace a contract, but they make it easier to compare bids, approve milestones and explain a dispute.
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