Short answer: Before you hire anyone, confirm their license with your state or local licensing office, get a certificate of insurance, compare at least two written estimates, and sign a written contract that spells out the scope, price, schedule, permits and payment schedule. Avoid paying most of the price before the work starts.
8 checks before you sign
- License. Look the contractor up with your state or local licensing board. Requirements differ by state and trade, and electricians and plumbers are licensed almost everywhere.
- Insurance. Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and workers’ compensation coverage, issued by their insurer, not a photo of a card.
- Written estimates. Get at least two, itemized the same way, so you can compare materials, labor and extras line by line.
- Written contract. It should name the scope of work, materials, start and finish dates, total price, payment schedule, cleanup and warranty.
- Permits. Ask who pulls the permit. Work done without a required permit can cause problems with insurance and when you sell.
- Payment schedule. Tie payments to finished stages of work. Be wary of anyone who asks for most of the money upfront or cash only.
- References and reviews. Ask for recent customers with similar jobs, and look at reviews on more than one site.
- Change orders. Agree that any change to the scope or price is put in writing and signed before the work is done.
Red flags
- Door-to-door offers right after a storm, with pressure to sign that day
- No physical business address or a phone number that only takes texts
- Pressure to sign an insurance assignment of benefits before you have talked to your insurer
- A price far below the other estimates with no explanation
- Refusal to put anything in writing
After the job
- Walk through the work with the contractor before the final payment.
- Get warranty documents, permit sign-offs and receipts for materials.
- Keep photos from before, during and after the job with your house records.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a licensed contractor for small repairs?
It depends on your state and the type of work. Electrical, plumbing, gas and structural work almost always require a licensed professional, and many states also license general and roofing contractors above a certain job size.
Who is responsible for checking a contractor’s license?
You are. Home Repair Explained connects homeowners with independent providers but does not license or vet them, so always verify the license and insurance yourself before work begins.