WHAT QUESTIONS SHOULD YOU ASK A POTENTIAL CONTRACTOR?

The first thing you should know about contractors is that they are not all created equal. When hiring someone to work on your home, it’s important to do your homework and ask the right questions. If possible, meet with more than one contractor before deciding which one is right for you. The first step in working with a construction company is making sure they have experience in residential projects like yours; if they don’t have experience doing this type of project before, then what makes them think they can do it well? Next question: Are they reliable? After all, nothing happens until something happens—and nothing will happen if the contractor isn’t on time and doesn’t finish when promised. Beyond those basics questions about ability and reliability comes another crucial factor: safety.

How long have you been working in construction?

  • How long have you been working in construction?
  • How long have you been working on this type of project?
  • What is your experience with the type of work you are planning to do for me?

Do you have a specific process for communication and quality control during the project?

Communication is a crucial part of any successful project, and it’s key to make sure that you’re getting your questions answered on a timely basis. You should be able to talk with your contractor at least once per week, if not every day. If they don’t have time for frequent communication, that could be an issue.

However, if they’re more concerned about communicating with subcontractors than with you as the client, that’s another red flag. Make sure that both parties are being kept in the loop about the progress of the job (and any issues) so everyone can feel comfortable moving forward without feeling left out or confused about what’s going on during construction.

Additionally, it’s important for contractors to have a clearly defined quality control process in place so that everything gets checked off before anything goes wrong down the line when there are less people working onsite and more pressure from outside forces like deadlines; this will ensure higher standards across all aspects of each job done by those who show up Monday morning through Thursday evening each week throughout the life cycle of an entire year-long project (or longer).

Can I see a list of references, so I can check with past clients?

If you’re considering hiring a contractor, one of the first things I would recommend asking is for a list of references. Call those references and ask questions about their experience with the contractor.

If it sounds like they were happy with their work, then great! If not, keep looking. The last thing you want to do is hire someone who didn’t do everything right or even worse: did something wrong and tried to cover it up by saying they had done everything right when they hadn’t!

Can I see proof of workers’ compensation and liability insurance?

When you hire a contractor to work on your home or business, you want to make sure that he or she has the appropriate insurance coverage to protect both of you. While most contractors will be insured as part of their general liability policy, it’s also important to ask for proof of workers’ compensation and liability insurance before signing a contract. Workers’ compensation insurance will cover any employees if they are injured while working on your property, while general liability coverage protects both the contractor and his or her subcontractors if someone is injured (or property damaged) on the job site.

What type of building codes are applicable in my area, and will you be familiar with them?

Building codes are a set of rules that tell you how to build or renovate in your area. They’re designed to keep the public safe, so it’s important that your contractor is familiar with local building codes.

When talking about building codes, it’s best to refer specifically to the ones applicable in your area. In some places, there may be more than one type of code at play—for example, a state or county may have its own laws about what can be built on certain types of land (like wetlands), while another city might have different rules for construction within its borders.

What type of subcontractors will you use on the project, and how will you manage their work?

You may also want to ask about the subcontractors they plan on using. Subcontractors are great for getting a lot of work done, but they’re not always easy to manage. Especially if you don’t have experience working with them before and don’t know their reputation in your area, it could be difficult for you to make sure that everything is being done properly. Make sure that whoever you hire has worked with subcontractors before and knows how best to get the job done without wasting any time or money on repairs from poor craftsmanship or shoddy materials.

Can I see a copy of your contract before signing it? (This is an especially good question for anyone who asks for a large deposit before starting work.)

A contract should include all the important details of the work, including:

  • The date that the contractor is to begin work.
  • The completion date for your project, if applicable (for example, if you are hiring an electrician to install new outlets in your kitchen).
  • The payment schedule. A good contract will have a detailed payment schedule that specifies how much money you’ll pay based on how much progress has been made on the project by certain dates. If you’re unsure what kind of payment schedule to use, consult with a professional who can help guide you through this process.
  • how to select contractor for your work.

You need three important things when hiring a contractor: experience, reliability, and safety

You need three important things when hiring a contractor: experience, reliability, and safety.

  • Experience

It’s important to make sure that your contractor has the experience to do the job right. Asking them about their previous projects and how long they’ve been in the business is a great way to get an idea of what kind of work they’re capable of doing for you. If you see that they’re short on experience or haven’t done any large projects like yours before, it might be best not to hire them just yet—they may not be able to deliver exactly what you want or need! But if they have worked on similar jobs before, this could be good news because then they know what needs doing and how long it’ll take them!

  • Reliability in delivering what promised

This one goes along with experience—if your potential contractor can’t show proof that he’s reliable and trustworthy (i.e., by showing references from past clients), then there’s no reason why we should trust him either! It’s important for us all here at [company] because trustworthiness leads directly toward quality service delivery over time.”

Conclusion

If you’re considering hiring a contractor for your project, it’s important to ask the right questions. These five are great ones to start with, but there are many more ways to get information about a contractor before you sign on with them. This list is just a starting point; if you have any additional questions that aren’t covered here, feel free to add them in the comments below!

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