Projects · Homeowners · 5 min read
Hiring a contractor: bids, contracts and permits
How to get comparable bids, what a contract should say, and how to pay as the work progresses.
Write the scope first
Bids are only comparable when every contractor prices the same work. Write down what is included, what is not, and the materials or selections you have chosen. Home Projects walks you through it.
Get at least three bids
Ask for line items, not just a total. Watch for missing work, large allowances that can grow, and who pulls the permit. The lowest total is not always the lowest final cost.
Check license and insurance
Ask for license numbers where your state licenses the trade, and a certificate of insurance naming you. Verified pros on ResidentData have had both checked.
Pay against progress
Avoid paying most of the price up front. Tie payments to finished stages, approve each invoice against the contract, and hold the final payment until the work passes inspection and you have the warranty and lien releases.
General information to help you ask better questions. It isn't legal, tax, lending, insurance or inspection advice.