21 Questions to Ask Before Signing Any Home Improvement Contract
A printable pre-signing checklist covering license, insurance, scope, schedule, payments, and warranty.
Print this. Take it to every estimate meeting. If they get defensive on more than two of these, walk.
License, insurance, identity (1–5)
- What's your state contractor license / registration number?
- Will you list me as a certificate holder on your general liability policy?
- Do you carry workers' comp on every person who'll be on my property?
- What's the legal name of your business and the address of the principal office?
- How long have you been licensed under this exact business name?
Scope and materials (6–11)
- Is the scope of work itemized in writing — what's included AND excluded?
- What brand and grade of materials will you use? (Get model numbers.)
- Who pulls the permit, and is the cost in this bid?
- Who handles cleanup, debris removal, and dumpster fees?
- What happens to leftover materials? (Should stay with the customer.)
- Will subcontractors be used? If so, can I see their licenses too?
Money (12–16)
- What's the deposit amount, and what does it cover?
- What's the draw schedule — and is the final payment held until I sign off?
- Are there any costs NOT in this bid that might come up?
- How do you handle change orders — written-only with my signature?
- Do you accept credit card so I have chargeback protection?
Timeline and quality (17–21)
- What's the start date and substantial completion date in writing?
- What's your delay clause — fixed completion or "weather permitting"?
- What's the written warranty on labor? On materials?
- If something breaks under warranty, how fast do you respond?
- Can you give me 3 references from jobs completed in the last 6 months?
After the call
- Verify the license number on your state board's site (link in the Hire a Contractor guide)
- Call 2 of the 3 references — ask "Would you hire them again?"
- Read the contract twice. Ask for changes in writing.
- Don't sign anything in the contractor's truck.
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Common questions
What should be in a home improvement contract?+
Scope of work, total price and payment schedule, start and completion dates, who pulls permits, materials and grade, change-order process, warranty, and license and bond numbers.
Can I cancel a contract after signing?+
Door-to-door and off-site sales often carry a right to cancel within a short window. Check your state's rule and the contract's own cancellation clause before you sign.
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