11 Questions To Ask Your Remodeling Contractor

So you’re looking for a remodeling contractor?

Finding a good one can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack while the haystack is on fire—chaotic and uncomfortable.

That doesn’t have to be the case.

Finding a solid remodeling contractor for your project is easier than you think. You just need to know what questions to ask when you sit down and talk with them.

Lucky for you, I’ve been in the remodeling space for quite some time, and have found that there’s a set list of questions that will guarantee you find the right fit for your remodeling project.

Here are 11 questions you ask your remodeling contractor. 

1. Do you have your contractor’s license and insurance?

I’m going to be cut and dry here. The simple answer is yes, you want to work with a remodeling contractor who has a state-certified license and insurance. Any remodel requires expertise and experience and if you want quality work done, I recommend working with a licensed general contractor

Here are two reasons why…

First, licensed general contractors have to apply and get approved by their state board ensuring that they follow best practices across the entire business. From permits to safety practices, construction to inspection, licensed contractors follow a strict set of rules that guarantee the work you pay for is going to be quality.

Second, general contractors who have a license have shown that they are competent and can handle the capacity of your project. This is your home, your place of refuge—you want to know that the team working on it is capable and can handle any situation that arises from start to finish. 

Now, if you’re looking to have a bedroom repainted and know a friend who’s a great painter but isn’t licensed, sure, you can make an exception to this rule. But I encourage any homeowner to do their diligence and make sure that you trust anyone who will do any work inside your home.

2. Will you take care of permits and inspections?

You don’t want to be a contractor, hence why you are hiring one. 

Remodeling contractors spend every day working with permits and inspections, making sure it’s all in order. Don’t put the pressure on yourself to do these things alone.

From my experience in the remodeling industry, most homeowners don’t know how to schedule an inspection, nor prepare for one. Seasoned remodeling contractors are doing this regularly and have the process scripted so that it’s easy for you to sit back and relax. 

In that vein, remodeling contractors know what inspectors are looking for and how they operate. They often have relationships with the inspectors and know them personally, making it easier to prepare your home for inspection and get the permits taken care of in an efficient manner. 

Remodeling Hint: If a contractor isn’t willing to get permits and inspections taken care of that is a red flag. There are loopholes where handymen can ask you to pull the permits and mark you as the general contractor instead of them and then conduct the work—this puts you at risk. This contractor crossed the line showing they are not looking out for your best interest as a client. Like I said before, you want to trust the team working in your home, thus, leaving these duties to the contractor is an important step for building that trust.

3. Can you provide references for past remodeling work?

You wouldn't buy a new car without reading reviews about the vehicle and talking to a friend who also drives that car. 

The same goes for your home. You want to know that the people you are working with have a solid reputation for quality. That is reinforced through social proof, aka, references.

The best remodeling contractors have a process in place that connects new clients with previous ones to ask about their experience working with them.

Often, remodeling contractors will have new clients call past clients and ask about their experiences. Contractors who are confident in their work will not hesitate to share references with you because they want to ensure that you know they will deliver.

Remodeling Hint: If your potential contractor isn’t willing to connect you with references, that might be a sign that the work they’ve done in the past wasn’t too great. Your home is of the utmost importance, so working with a contractor who is willing to show their previous work is critical to building a solid relationship.

4. Will you be working with subcontractors on this remodeling project?

I get asked this question a lot and in most cases, remodeling contractors will have a core in-house team and then subcontract where they need to fill in the gaps.

Many remodeling contractors focus on one area of discipline and have a network of subcontractors who are reputable and deliver quality work. I tell every client, friend, and family member to trust your contractor to work with subcontractors who will take care of essentials they don’t cover—electric, plumbing, etc.

On that note, contractors who have been in the industry and produce quality work have focused on developing a solid network of subcontractors who complement their work. Usually, these subcontractors are also up to date on the process of the general contractor making it more efficient and effective in the project.

5. How will payment work for my remodeling project?

Everyone wants to know what they are going to pay for a remodel. You’re not going to start a project without knowing how and when you are going to pay. Nobody wants to get hit with a massive bill at the end and not know where it all came from.

As a remodeling client, you should look for a transparent cost model that outlines how much your remodeling project is going to cost. There will be order changes at times, but if your contractor is transparent, these charges will be shared with you throughout the project.

In an ideal situation, your remodeling contractor will break down each part of your project and show how much it costs per phase.

In that vein, you want to work with contractors that break up payments over the course of a project. For example, I prefer to bill clients every 1-3 weeks depending on the project, so that they aren’t getting hit with a massive number at the end of a project. 

6. Is there any warranty for services and materials involved?

Remodeling contractors should ensure that what they deliver is of the highest quality based on the budget and project specs. This is the home that you live and operate in every single day and you want to know that it is safe.

Contractors should have at least a one-year warranty on projects. This guarantees that if something happens between the time a project finishes and one year, you can get it fixed.

One thing to note is that the best remodeling contractors focus on relationships. If you work with a contractor you trust, nine out of ten times they are going to work with you on an issue even if it falls out of the scope of one year. Things happen and remodeling contractors will understand that.

Remodeling Hint: If you want to provide your own materials for a project that works. But be aware that the contractor is going to vet every single piece of material to make certain it’s up to their standard. I recommend leaving the sourcing of materials to your contractor as they are people who know the best and can get their hands on it.

7. How do change orders work for my remodeling project?

I’ve experienced this firsthand and can tell you that change orders crush a remodeling project. They bust the budget and extend the timeline of a project.

Make sure that your contractor has a set process for change orders that clearly outlines the steps. This establishes that when a change order comes up, both parties know what is happening—no surprises.

This is where your remodeling proposal comes into play. Remodeling contractors should refer to the proposal for change orders that have a breakdown of cost. That way if one happens, you as a client can understand where the cost is coming from and pay it right away. Like I said before, you don’t want to get hit with a huge bill at the end, thus, establishing this upfront will guarantee that you pay a much smaller bill at the end.

Remodeling Hint: A typical deposit for a remodeling project should be somewhere around 25-30% of the total cost. 

8. What steps will you take to protect and preserve my property?

You want people to respect your home. Hence, you should look for a remodeling contractor who respects your property.

From where they park to operating times, identifying utility shut-offs to floor protection, it should all be taken care of. Contractors should accommodate your living space if you are going to be living in the home during the project. This means setting up dust walls, keeping doors closed, lock boxes, etc.

You want to have a remodeling contractor that goes above and beyond to make sure your home is safe, protected, and maintained from the beginning of the project to the final finish.

9. What does a typical timeline look like for a remodeling project?

I want to use this question to share some insight from my experience working in the remodeling industry.

Contractors wear many hats. They run the business, market the business, employ workers, and even swing the hammer from time to time. That being said, it’s important to understand and value your remodeling contractors' time, and in turn, they will value yours.

The best remodeling contractors put a heavy emphasis on establishing a realistic timeline that is broken down into different phases, allowing you to see what they will do and when they will do it. They should share this with you upfront before a single nail is struck or floorboard is laid, that way you know what’s being done and can plan accordingly.

Remodeling Hint: Don’t expect high-quality remodeling contractors to give everything to you for free, such as estimates and timelines. As I said, remodeling contractors are busy and their time is limited. So be willing to pay for these estimates because they are taking time out of their working schedule to deliver them to you.

10. What are your preferred methods of communication?

Communication is the lifeblood of any remodeling project.

During the initial conversation with your remodeling contractor, there should be a clear path of communication established. That way everyone knows where to go when questions arise, change orders are needed, or you want an update on progress.

In my experience, this looks like a group text between you, the client, the contractor, and the project manager.

Doing this also builds a cemented history of conversation that you can refer to when things come up. This keeps everyone accountable from start to finish.

11. How do we resolve disagreements?

Communication.

I’ve said it before and I’m saying it again. Working with a remodeling contractor is all about building trust. That trust is developed through communication.

Problems arise from a lack of communication and preparation. That’s why you’ll see remodeling contractors who deliver quality services do work up front to establish clarity and build a plan.

This is where contracts come in. Contracts are great to establish clarity and resolve disagreements. You should look to work with a remodeling contractor who has mutually beneficial contracts so that if an issue comes up it can be resolved using that contract as reference.

If something is to go to court, this contract also makes sure that both parties, client and contractor, are safe.