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Pitch Perfect Roofing & General Contractors
CIB# 80003932

20 Questions to ask when hiring a General Contractor

7/2/2019

27 Comments

 
20 Questions To Ask Before Hiring A General Contractor
 
Question #1: How long have you been working in this industry?
Answer Should Be: Long enough to accumulate at least ten to twenty references you can contact.
Why This Is Important: More experience does not always mean better service; however, a contractor who has been in the industry for several years is more likely to have a proven track record.

Question #2: Are you licensed?
Answer Should Be: Yes.
Why This Is Important: If you hire an unlicensed contractor who does half of the work and then skips out of town (leaving you with an unfinished product), then you are on your own when it comes to resolving the problem. If you hire someone who is licensed by the state, you will have backup when it comes to fighting this battle.

Question #3: Do you carry workman’s comp insurance for your employees?
Answer Should Be: Yes, for all employees and sub-contractors that will be on your property.
Why This Is Important: Joe Roofer falls from a ladder and breaks his neck while completing your project. Guess who could be held responsible for medical bills if he is uninsured? YOU! Since the last thing you need is to pay for someone else’s back surgery, ensure the contractor covers all employees with insurance before they step foot in your home.

Question #4: Do you have insurance in case something in my home gets broken in the renovation and/or construction process?
Answer Should Be: Yes.
Why This Is Important: Accidents happen; and when they do, you don’t want to be held financially responsible for repairing damage you didn’t cause. The company entering your home should ensure if they break something, they will fix it and cover all of the costs to do so.

Question #5: Do you belong to any professional organizations and, if so, which ones?
Answer Should Be: Yes.
Why This Is Important: Joining an association for contractors is not mandatory, but it does show the commitment the contractor has to the job and the industry in general. Professional associations, which may be national, statewide, or even specific to the contractor’s specialty, offer added training, networking and research materials to members in an effort to keep them up to date with practices.

Question #6: Can you provide a list of references I can contact?
Answer Should Be: Yes.
Why This Is Important: Checking references is one of the only methods for assuring the contractor you choose can get the job done. 

Question #7: What is the projected timeline for this project?
Answer Should Be: A specific amount of time.
Why This Is Important: While unexpected problems might arise as walls are removed or structures are built, an experienced contractor should be able to give you a projected time for completion of the project. There are times when a project can’t be properly estimated due to the suspicion of hidden damage or additional work behind existing walls or floors. In these cases, you should enter into a “time and materials” contract.

Question #8: Are you willing to sign a “time and materials” contract?
Answer Should Be: Yes.
Why This Is Important: Imagine this renovation project nightmare: an unexpected find that results in extra time, materials and labor fees to fix; a contractor who wants to charge twice your monthly mortgage per hour to repair the damage; and you, stuck with a project half-finished and paying twice as much as you should to get it completed. This does happen, so it is imperative homeowners understand prior to the start of the project what the fees will be if a contractor runs into unexpected fixes. A “times and materials” document states the labor rate and material markup of anything that might arise unexpectedly.

Question #9: How often do you finish a project in the anticipated time?
Answer Should Be: Most of the time.
Why This Is Important: Knowing how often projects get completed on time will tell you certain things about the potential contractor. Is the contractor overextended? If so, the project could be delayed. But a contractor might say “Most of the time!” , which is more accurate. What can you do? Ask your references if the contractor finished on time and, if not, why.

Question #10: Will you be on site at all times to oversee progress of the job?
Answer Should Be: No
Why This Is Important: The contractor you hire is the project manager and should be on site each day to oversee progress and ensure the work is being done according to the plan you agreed to in the beginning of the project. If a contractor does answer “No” to this question, you need to ask . . .

Question #11: How often will you stop by to check on the progress?
Answer Should Be: Daily.
Why This Is Important: Part of the general contractor’s quoted price is for project management .  If the contractor is not on site daily, you need to ask . . .

Question #12: Who is the on-site project manager?
Answer Should Be: The specific name of a person who will be at your home on a daily basis.
Why This Is Important: You need to know who to contact should you discover things are not going as planned, making sure someone is tracking progress, and someone who can answer your questions. If you are not given the name of a person who will be the project manager, don’t hire them. If your contractor names another person to oversee the project, the next question you ask should be . . .

Question #13: Will you provide me with daily updates?
Answer Should Be: Yes.
Why This Is Important: As the homeowner, it is your right to know exactly what is always going on. Without daily updates, you will be out of the loop and may be caught off guard at some point during the project.

Question #14: Who pulls required permits for the job, you or me?
Answer Should Be: The contractor.
Why This Is Important: The contractor should pull the permits as they are the professionals that know what needs to be done.

Question #15: Will you write out a contract specifying what you will do, the anticipated time frame, line items for materials needed to complete the job, cost, time needed, a ‘time and materials’ contract should a project become more involved than first thought, and a termination clause?
Answer Should Be: Yes.
Why This Is Important: A contractor (or any professional) can offer you a diamond but deliver a stone; and there isn’t anything you can do about it if the agreement isn’t in writing. Request a written contract that includes the items listed above. Have the contractor sign and date the contract and keep a copy in your records. Beyond that, make sure you understand everything in the contract.

Question #16: Will you offer a guarantee on your work, and, if so, what is the guarantee?
Answer Should Be: Yes, and with a specific amount of time (six months, one year, lifetime, etc).
Why This Is Important: If you are willing to purchase a warranty on that gadget you probably will never use; you should only hire a contractor who can guarantee their work. Contractors can guarantee against two types of problems:
  • Defective Materials
  • Workmanship Problems
Your written guarantee should include clauses that state what the contractor will cover and for how long. 

Question #17: What is the daily work schedule?
Answer Should Be: Specific hours: Examples include 9-5 with an hour from noon to one for lunch; specific days of the week: Examples include Monday through Friday.
Why This Is Important: If a contractor fails to give you a schedule, this probably means:
1.  They’re not organized enough to create one, which means
2.  They won’t be at your house on a regular basis, which means
3.  You will not have any sense of organization in your daily life until the project has been completed, which could take forever without an organized schedule
A professional contractor will give you a daily schedule and will adhere to that schedule throughout the time it takes to complete the job.

Question #18: Have you been involved with any legal disputes following a previous job?
Answer Should Be: An honest one.
Why This Is Important: In a perfect world, the answer to this question would be no. But we know the world isn’t perfect. If the contractor has been involved in a prior legal dispute you need to know. While the specifics behind the dispute may not be a deal breaker, the fact that a contractor isn’t honest when asked this question should be.

Question #19: What is the payment schedule?
Answer Should Be: Depends on the company, but you should never pay the entire amount up front.
Why This Is Important: Different contractors may offer different options when it comes to payment and different options may work better for your situation. However, never pay for the work in its entirety prior to the job’s completion and inspection. A fair down payment is fine, but consumers should establish a payment plan tied to progress and should hold back the final payment until the job is completed to the consumer’s satisfaction.

Question #20: Will you agree to including a termination clause in the contract that we co-write?
Answer Should Be: Yes.
Why This Is Important: A termination clause is an agreement that allows either party, contractor OR homeowner, to get out of the contract on the terms both parties agreed to. If a homeowner stops paying the contractor, the contractor could terminate the contract and walk away without penalty. On the other hand, if a contractor doesn’t show up for work, the homeowner could terminate the contract without penalty.
Want to take a guess as to what our answers are to these questions? You got it! YES!!! (except for question 18… the answer to that one is NO)
​
Home renovations can be equally as exciting and daunting. Ask these twenty questions to contractors you’re considering for the job, and then hire the contractor who can provide the answers you want to hear.


If you would like a copy of these questions for yourself, visit the general contracting section of our website and download a copy in English or in Spanish
27 Comments
Eileen Benson link
11/2/2020 02:22:22 pm

Thanks for explaining why we should avoid choosing a contractor who requires full payment for the project upfront. My husband and I want to hire a contractor so we can add a second bedroom and ground floor bathroom to our home later this year. I'm glad I read your article and learned what to look out for as we search for the right home improvement contractor to hire!

Reply
Charlottelandsurveys.com link
3/12/2021 03:07:43 am

The facts that have been discussed here are extremely important. Thank you so much for this great post.

Reply
Zoe Campos link
28/4/2020 09:35:35 pm

Thank you for reminding me that I have to verify with my potential contractor if they're going to check the construction project daily. My husband and I want to ensure that everything will go as smoothly as possible for the construction of our new house. We know it will be hard, but we want to be able to build it before we have our first baby. We're hoping that we can find a good company who can make our dream home come through for our future family.

Reply
Alicia Byrne link
6/6/2020 06:37:18 am

I think it's great that you brought up that we should discuss with our contractors about the payment schedule and never agree to pay more than required as the down payment. I would imagine this to be very important so that we can have leverage over the contractor to make sure that the project is done to our satisfaction. My thoughts would be that we should have a contractor that we can trust and work well together.

Reply
Express Home Improvements link
15/9/2020 03:06:44 am

Thanks for sharing this amazing information.

Reply
megan alder link
15/9/2020 02:48:15 pm

You made a great point when you recommended making sure that the contractor you'll hire for your home issues is insured, and is also completely licensed. My parent told me that our patio sprinkler is dripping so they want to hire someone to fix it. I know that there are other little issues that need to be taken care of so I will start looking for a general contractor.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
8/10/2020 10:20:46 pm

I do agree with you that it is important for us to choose a general contractor that is licensed and trained. This will guarantee that they can carry out a job efficiently and professionally. I will keep this information in mind for when I interview prospective contractors for my project.

Reply
Eli Richardson link
31/12/2020 11:08:30 am

It's great that you elaborated on how important is to be sure that a general contractor is licensed to do his job before hiring him. If I were to hire a contractor for a project, I would like to be sure that he's entitled to conduct all the work to be done. In my opinion, it's a deal-breaker if he didn't have all the proper permissions and licenses. You did a great job of explaining how hiring someone that is licensed can back you up in case you need to resolve legal issues.

Reply
Kristofer Van Wagner link
7/1/2021 12:08:06 am

I definitely agree with you that it is important for us to ensure that the general contractor that we hire offers insurance for its employees. By ensuring that the employees or workers are insured, we will be guaranteed that they are protected. I will definitely keep this information in mind in the event I need to hire a general contractor for any home renovation project.

Reply
Rebecca Gardner link
19/1/2021 02:37:02 pm

Thanks for explaining that it's good to ask about the payment schedule so we can find something that'll work conveniently with our financial situation. My brother in law wants to hire a commercial remodeling service to upgrade the carpentry and plumbing in the old office building he owns. Maybe I'll share your advice so he can use your suggested questions to find a remodeling service he feels more confident about working with!

Reply
Taylor Hicken link
20/1/2021 08:15:23 pm

You made a good point when you shared that it is important to know how long has the potential contractor been in the business in order to ensure a proven track record. My parents just mentioned the other day that they are thinking of renovating the house since they want to give it a new look that can create a good impression on their guests and relatives when they come over. I will suggest to them looking for a reliable contractor who has been in the business for years so they can ensure an excellent outcome.

Reply
Best Access Doors link
30/3/2021 05:23:34 am

Excellent writing! We can take away a lot of important information from this article. Keep sharing great posts.


Reply
Access Doors and Panels link
1/4/2021 08:50:26 am

The facts that have been discussed here are really important. Thank you so much for sharing a great post.


Reply
Chris Pederson link
16/4/2021 03:33:39 pm

Thanks for the tip to ensure that whoever you hire has insurance. They need to be held accountable for any damage done. You shouldn't have to pay for anything because they broke it.

Reply
Chance Cook link
25/8/2021 08:27:42 am

I agree that the answer about legal disputes should be honest. I don't care about any past legal drama unless it involves jail time. But if they lie to me, that shows me I can't trust them.

Reply
General Contractor link
17/9/2021 07:57:26 am

Before the contractor starts work, have a friendly conversation about what you want them to be careful with if you have any concerns about things.

Reply
Mesa Surveyors Group link
16/11/2021 04:43:15 am

Thank you for the tips to make sure that whoever you hire has insurance. They must be held accountable for any harm done. You should not be required to pay for anything because they damaged it.

Reply
Roofing Contractors In Saraland AL link
20/11/2021 08:49:18 am

The first interaction you’ll have with the builder – you will ask the builder’s sales representative. These early meetings are your chance to ask all of the questions you might have regarding costs, labor, and other essentials that you need to know about before start the work.

Reply
Roofing Contractor In Orange Beach AL link
22/11/2021 06:46:36 pm

Professional associations, which may be national, statewide, or even specific to the contractor’s specialty, offer added training, networking and research materials.

Reply
Milwaukee Surveyors Group link
24/1/2022 06:49:44 am

Thank you for the recommendations to make sure that whoever you hire has insurance. They must be held accountable for any damage they cause.

Reply
Linden NJ link
11/5/2022 04:22:48 pm

Whether it’s a kitchen remodel or building a dream home, construction projects can be stressful and complex. Consider these tips when hiring a general contractor to ease the process.

Reply
Manuel Farrell link
19/10/2022 12:14:41 am

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Brandon Collins link
29/10/2022 09:53:47 am

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Mark Horton link
30/10/2022 01:30:40 pm

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foundation repair link
26/1/2023 10:28:09 am

Hiring an unlicensed contractor can be a risky decision. If you hire one, and they only do half of the work before skipping town, you will not only be left with an unfinished job but also out of pocket for the money you paid them. It's always best to look for a licensed and insured contractor to ensure the best possible outcome.

Reply
John Bravo link
27/1/2023 11:40:49 pm

Great article, very important to ask a contractor the right questions!

Reply
cement contractor link
30/1/2023 02:37:04 am

Checking references is an essential part of the hiring process for any contractor. This step helps to ensure that the contractor you choose has the necessary skills, experience, and qualifications to get the job done. References provide a detailed account of the contractor's past performance and can help to verify that the contractor is reliable and trustworthy. Additionally, checking references can help you to identify any potential red flags and make sure that the contractor is a good fit for the job. Ultimately, references are one of the only ways to guarantee that the contractor you choose is capable of completing the job as expected.

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