10 questions I should ask my general contractor before hiring him?

Here are 10 focused questions that surface experience, process, and risk before you signanything.

February 3, 2026

Licensing, insurance, and experience

  • Are you  licensed , bonded, and insured for this type of project, and can you providedocumentation (including workers’ comp and liability)?
  • How long have you been in business, and how many projects like mine have you completedin the last 12–24 months?

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References, subs, and supervision

  • Can you provide recent client references and photos of similar jobs, and may I contact atleast two homeowners directly?
  • Who will be on site each day (you, a supervisor, subs), and how do you vet and manageyour subcontractors?

Scope, schedule, and money

  • Can you walk me through a detailed written scope of work, including what is and isn’tincluded in your price?
  • What is the projected start date, duration, and typical work hours, and how do you handleschedule delays or overlapping jobs?
  • What is your payment schedule (deposit, progress draws, final payment), and under whatconditions can the price change?

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Permits, communication, and warranty

  • Will you handle all permits and inspections, and are permit fees and inspection close‑outincluded in the contract?
  • How will you communicate during the project (primary contact, frequency, channel) anddocument change orders or issues?
  • What written warranty do you provide on labor and materials, and how are warranty issueshandled after the job is finished?

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As a follow‑up, it often helps to ask each reference specifically about communication,cleanliness, schedule, and how surprises were handled.

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