What should I ask a contractor before hiring them?

Start with license, bond and insurance you verify yourself through Washington L&I, then the payment schedule, the written change-order process, who actually performs the work, the warranty, and who your day-to-day contact is. A contractor comfortable answering all of those in writing is the one to shortlist.

How do I verify a contractor's license in Washington?

Look the business up in the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries contractor lookup. It shows registration status, bond and insurance, and any infractions. Do this yourself rather than accepting a number on a business card.

What is a normal contractor payment schedule?

Payments tied to completed milestones — for example a modest mobilization payment, then draws as defined stages finish, with a final payment after the walkthrough and punch list. Be wary of any large sum requested before work begins.

What are the biggest contractor red flags?

A large upfront deposit, a suggestion to skip permits, a one-page bid with no itemization, pressure to sign today, no written change-order process, and reluctance to give references from jobs like yours.

Field Notes · August 29, 2026 · 7 min read

Twelve Questions to Ask a Contractor Before You Sign

The twelve questions that separate a real Washington contractor from a risk: license and bond verification, payment schedules, change orders, subs, warranty and site conduct.

The ENF General Contracting crew on site in Everett, WA

Hiring a contractor is hiring someone to live in your house for weeks or months and spend a large amount of your money. These are the twelve questions worth asking every candidate — including us — and what a good answer sounds like.

Credentials and risk

Are you licensed, bonded and insured — and what is your L&I number? Then verify it yourself in the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries contractor lookup. Status, bond, insurance and infractions are all public.
Does your insurance cover my property and your crew? Ask for the certificate. If a worker is hurt on an uninsured job, that exposure can land on the homeowner.
Who pulls the permits? The right answer is the contractor. If they suggest skipping permits or ask you to pull them as an owner-builder, that shifts liability to you — see our permits guide.

Money

What is the payment schedule? Milestone-based, in writing. A large deposit before work starts is the field’s most reliable warning sign.
Is the estimate itemized? Scope, named materials, allowances. A one-page number with no breakdown is where overruns are born — the budgeting guide covers what a real quote contains.
How do change orders work? There should be a written process with pricing agreed before the work happens. This question alone separates professionals from the rest.
What is not included? The most revealing question on this list. Honest builders have a ready answer.

The people and the work

Who actually performs the work? Employees or subcontractors, and who supervises them daily. At ENF, Eduard runs every job personally — that continuity is the whole product.
Who is my point of contact, and how do I reach them? One name, one number, and an expectation for response time.
Can I see work like mine, and speak to those clients? Not just any references — references from comparable projects. Ours are on the reviews page and the projects page.

After the last day

What warranty comes with the work? In writing, with a duration and a clear statement of what it covers.
How do you leave the site each day? Dust containment, floor protection, where materials are stored, and whether the site is broom-clean at the end of the day. In an occupied home this determines your quality of life for months.

What good answers have in common

They are specific, they are willing to be written down, and they arrive without pressure to sign today. A builder who welcomes these questions has answered them many times before. You can ask us all twelve at the free estimate — we would rather you did. Start with what we build and how our process runs.

Ask us all twelve →

Frequently asked questions

What should I ask a contractor before hiring them?: Start with license, bond and insurance you verify yourself through Washington L&I, then the payment schedule, the written change-order process, who actually performs the work, the warranty, and who your day-to-day contact is. A contractor comfortable answering all of those in writing is the one to shortlist.
How do I verify a contractor's license in Washington?: Look the business up in the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries contractor lookup. It shows registration status, bond and insurance, and any infractions. Do this yourself rather than accepting a number on a business card.
What is a normal contractor payment schedule?: Payments tied to completed milestones — for example a modest mobilization payment, then draws as defined stages finish, with a final payment after the walkthrough and punch list. Be wary of any large sum requested before work begins.
What are the biggest contractor red flags?: A large upfront deposit, a suggestion to skip permits, a one-page bid with no itemization, pressure to sign today, no written change-order process, and reluctance to give references from jobs like yours.

Written by

Eduard — Owner & General Contractor

Eduard owns ENF General Contracting and has built and remodeled homes across Everett, Seattle & the Eastside for over a decade. Licensed, Bonded & Insured. He runs every ENF project personally — and writes these guides from the job site. More about Eduard · (425) 217-9921