20 Questions to Ask a Contractor Before Hiring (Checklist)

Bottom line: if you only ask three questions, ask for the license number, proof of insurance, and an itemized written estimate. The other seventeen below turn a decent hire into a confident one.

The three you should never skip

1. "What's your contractor license number?" — A pro answers instantly. Hesitation is your answer. Verify the number with your state's licensing board; it takes two minutes.
2. "Do you carry liability insurance and workers' comp?" — If an uninsured worker is injured on your property, that can become your problem.
3. "Can you email me an itemized estimate — labor, materials, and fees separate?" — Lump-sum quotes can't be compared and invite change-order surprises.

About the job

4. Have you done this exact repair recently?
5. What's your rough price range for a job like this?
6. What could make it cost more once you're on site? (The honest answer is never "nothing.")
7. Is a permit required, and who pulls it?
8. How soon could you start, and how long will the work take?
9. Will you handle haul-away and cleanup, and is that in the price?

About the business

10. Will your own crew do the work, or subcontractors?
11. What warranty do you offer on labor? (1 year is standard; less is a flag.)
12. What warranty applies to parts and materials?
13. Can you share a recent local reference?
14. How long have you been operating under this business name? (Serial renaming can hide bad reviews.)

About the money

15. What deposit do you require? (10–30% is normal. Over 50% is not.)
16. What payment methods do you accept? (Cash-only is a flag.)
17. How do you handle change orders if the scope grows?
18. Is this estimate valid for at least two weeks?

Situational

19. For older homes: any concerns with asbestos, knob-and-tube wiring, or galvanized pipe — and what happens to the price if you find them?
20. If I supply my own fixture or unit, does that change the price or the warranty?

Asking is free. Skipping is not.

Most homeowners skip half these questions because the call already feels awkward at minute three. That's exactly why Fixa asks them for you: every contractor gets the same checklist — license, insurance, itemization, warranty, deposit — and you get the answers side by side without making a single call.