The Ultimate Homeowner's Checklist for Hiring a Contractor
Hiring the wrong contractor is expensive, slow, and stressful. Work through this checklist before you sign anything — it covers licensing, insurance, estimates, contracts, payment protection, and the warning signs worth walking away from.
1. Verify the license
A license proves the trade work is legally permitted where you live.
Ask for the license number and the exact name it is registered under.
Look the number up with your state or county licensing board — don't rely on a photo of a card.
Confirm the license covers the specific trade (plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing) and is current.
For permitted work, confirm who pulls the permit. It should be the contractor, not you.
2. Confirm insurance and bonding
If an uninsured worker is hurt on your property, the liability can land on you.
Request a certificate of general liability insurance sent directly from the insurer.
Check the coverage dates cover your entire project window.
Ask about workers' compensation for anyone on your site, including subcontractors.
For larger jobs, ask whether the contractor is bonded and what the bond covers.
3. Compare written estimates properly
Three written estimates tell you far more than three phone quotes.
Require line items: labor, materials, disposal, permits, and timeline.
Ask what would trigger a change order and how it gets approved.
Be suspicious of a bid far below the others — it usually means missing scope.
Check the start date and duration in writing, not just verbally.
4. Check reputation and past work
Recent, verifiable work matters more than a long list of claims.
Read reviews tied to real completed jobs, not anonymous testimonials.
Ask for two references from projects finished in the last year.
Look at photos of comparable jobs, not just the contractor's best-ever project.
Confirm the business name, address, and phone number all match the paperwork.
5. Get the contract right
Everything you agreed to verbally should appear in the written agreement.
Full scope of work, materials, brands, and model numbers.
Total price and a payment schedule tied to milestones.
Warranty terms for labor and materials.
Cleanup, debris removal, and who is responsible for damage.
Red flags to walk away from
Demands full payment, or a very large deposit, in cash before starting.
Refuses to provide a license number, insurance certificate, or written contract.
Pressures you to decide today with a "price expires tonight" offer.
Shows up unsolicited after a storm and cannot show local references.
Wants you to pull the permit for work they are performing.
How JOTA handles this for you
JOTA is a marketplace of independent local businesses, and we do the verification legwork before a pro can quote your job.
Identity, business, license, and insurance documents are reviewed before a pro earns a checkmark — see what our checkmarks mean.
Estimates arrive in writing so you can compare scope side by side.
Your payment is held securely and released only after you approve the completed work.
Messages, change orders, and agreements stay in one place if a dispute comes up.
