Hiring a general contractor is a gamble if you don't know what you're doing. Most people only learn the hard way — after the job goes sideways. Here's how to avoid that.
What to Look For
Look for someone who has been in business at least five years. That weeds out fly-by-night operations. Ask for proof of license and insurance — actual copies, not promises. Then check their work yourself. Go see a finished project in person. Photos can hide a lot. Pay attention to how they communicate. If they take days to respond to a simple text, imagine how they'll handle a problem.
Questions to Ask
Ask who will be on site every day. Many contractors show up once and leave a crew you've never met. Ask about permits — who pulls them and who pays if they're wrong. Ask how change orders are handled. Get everything in writing. The yes/no answers matter less than how they explain them. If they get defensive or vague, that's a warning.
Red Flags
A demand for a huge deposit upfront — anything over ten percent of the total — is a red flag. So is a contractor who won't give you a written contract with a clear scope of work. Watch out for anyone who pressures you to decide fast or says they'll start tomorrow. Real pros are usually booked out. Also, if they only want cash or dodge credit cards, run.
How Ratings Help You Choose
Ratings tell you how a contractor treats people after the job is done. Look for patterns in reviews. A few bad reviews are normal — everyone has a difficult customer. But if you see the same complaint repeated, like leaving messes or going over budget, believe it. Also check how recent the reviews are. A five-star rating from five years ago means nothing if the last year is full of complaints.
Stop guessing — compare local general contractors on RatingsNearMe.