Questions to Ask a Contractor's References

How many times have you been advised to check someone's references? How many times were those references less than glowing? References are only as valuable as the information they provide, so the burden is on the homeowner to ask good, specific questions that will let him know whether the proposed contractor is a good match. So, here are some questions to ask, in no particular order:

1. Did your job come in according to budget?

2. How often did the contractor come to your home?

3. How often did the crew come to your home?

4. If the contractor was not there, was there someone with the authority to answer your questions and make decisions?

5. Were change orders in writing?

6. Did the job finish on time?

7. If not, why?

8. How did the contractor leave the site at the end of the day?

9. Did you feel it was safe?

10. Did the contractor obtain necessary permits?

11. What hours did the contractor work?

12. Did the contractor have other jobs going at the same time that you know of? If so, did he or she have enough workers to cover both jobs?

13. Were you consulted about materials used?

14. Was the crew pleasant?

15. Did the work pass inspection?

16. Were you given a clear idea of what the contractor was going to do for you?

17. Were the results what you expected?

18. Were you happy with the contractor's subcontractors?

19. How big was your job, and what kind of work did the contractor do for you?

20. Would you work with this contractor again?

Asking informed questions should help you decide whether your contractor is right for you. Hopefully, as a result, you will have a long-time productive relationship that results in a magnificent final product.