Choosing a contractor means deciding who can deliver the work and how you will hold the agreement together. Build a small evidence file for each candidate: business identity, applicable credentials, relevant experience, and the commitments they will put in writing. Resolve important gaps before making the choice.
Start with a verifiable identity
Ask for the business name that will appear on the agreement, its contact details, and the person responsible for your project. Use that same identity throughout your notes so a trading name, salesperson, and subcontractor do not become accidentally interchangeable.
The FTC’s home-improvement guidance recommends verifying licensing with the relevant government authority, requesting proof of insurance, obtaining multiple written estimates, and checking references and complaints. Requirements vary by location and trade. Use your state consumer protection office to find the appropriate local authority and ask which credentials apply to this work.
Record the authority consulted, lookup date, name checked, and result. Where an insurance document raises questions, ask the issuing provider to clarify its applicability to the proposed work. Put unresolved details in a visible “awaiting confirmation” column. A document received and a question resolved are different stages of the file.
Ask references about the work you need
Choose questions that connect a past job to your own. A beautiful photograph shows a finish; a reference conversation can explain what happened during the work. Ask the contractor for permission to contact customers whose projects had a similar size, material, or occupied-home constraint.
| Ask the previous customer | Record a concrete answer |
|---|---|
| What work did this company complete, and when? | The scope, approximate completion date, and who supervised the job. |
| How were unexpected conditions handled? | An example of the explanation, revised proposal, and approval process. |
| How did communication work? | Who responded, how often updates arrived, and how a problem was resolved. |
| What happened after completion? | Whether follow-up work was needed and the response received. |
| What would you clarify before hiring again? | A specific lesson to turn into a question for your own agreement. |
Keep brief notes with the date and the relationship between the reference and the project. Look for patterns across several kinds of evidence. Treat a short review or a single complaint as a lead to investigate; ask what happened and how it was addressed.
Turn promises into responsibilities
Ask each candidate to respond to the same short description of the work. Alongside the estimate, request the proposed site contact, who will perform specialist tasks, and how decisions will be documented. Identify who is responsible for confirming permits and arranging inspections with the relevant authority.
Discuss access, protection of occupied rooms, daily cleanup, and how you will raise a concern. Ask how changes will be described and approved before additional work proceeds. Separate the manufacturer’s product warranty from the contractor’s workmanship commitment, and record whom you would contact for each.
Before signing, make sure the agreement reflects the promises you are relying on. Read payment milestones, exclusions, start and completion expectations, and the process for disagreement. Ask the local consumer office about deposit restrictions and any cancellation rights that apply to your particular transaction; these depend on jurisdiction and circumstances.
Use unresolved questions to make the decision
Use the contractor screening sheet to keep evidence, open questions, and the reason for your final choice together. Give important unanswered questions priority over a numerical score that could hide them.
Keep enough time to review
The FTC identifies pressure for an immediate decision, full advance payment, and cash-only demands among warning signs. Step back from an offer that prevents independent checks. Keep copies of proposals and communications, and use the consumer office for the next step if a dispute cannot be resolved with the business.
Once you have selected a contractor, retain the evidence file with the signed agreement. Add dated change approvals, completion records, and follow-up contacts as the work progresses.