Contractor interview record
Ask for answers you can—
verify and compare.
Ask a contractor who will sign the agreement and supervise the work, what similar work they completed, which license and insurance records apply, what is included and excluded, how products and allowances are handled, who manages permits, how the schedule and payments work, how changes are approved, what warranty applies, and which final records you receive.
What should a homeowner do?
Ask a contractor who will sign the agreement and supervise the work, what similar work they completed, which license and insurance records apply, what is included and excluded, how products and allowances are handled, who manages permits, how the schedule and payments work, how changes are approved, what warranty applies, and which final records you receive.
Use the right order
Six decisions that turn advice into a usable record.
Verify identity and role
Ask for the legal business name, signer, license information where relevant, project supervisor, and who will actually perform specialty work.
LEAVE WITHNames that match the proposal and records.Test similar-project experience
Ask for recent projects with similar scope, constraints, products, and permit path—not only attractive photographs.
LEAVE WITHReferences connected to comparable work.Walk through the scope
Ask the contractor to identify included preparation, products, quantities, responsibilities, protection, cleanup, exclusions, and assumptions.
LEAVE WITHA written proposal that matches the requested work.Explain unknown costs
Ask how allowances, unit prices, concealed conditions, owner changes, taxes, delivery, markup, and credits are calculated and approved.
LEAVE WITHRules for price changes before they occur.Connect schedule and payment
Ask about start assumptions, long-lead items, milestone evidence, inspections, delays, access, communication, and final holdback.
LEAVE WITHA schedule and payment plan based on events.Define the finish line
Ask what warranty, punch-list process, final inspections, lien-related documents, manuals, receipts, photos, and product records are delivered.
LEAVE WITHA closeout promise worth writing down.Constructed example
Three polished answers that still need evidence
A reassuring interview can be useful, but these common answers require one more written step.
The goal is not confrontation. It is to turn a sales conversation into facts that can survive after the meeting.
Field checklist
Bring this list to the next conversation.
Mark an item complete only when the answer is written, dated, and connected to the actual project.
- 01Legal business name and signer
- 02Supervisor and trade roles
- 03Relevant license record
- 04Current insurance evidence
- 05Comparable references
- 06Included scope and products
- 07Allowances and exclusions
- 08Permit responsibility
- 09Schedule assumptions
- 10Payment milestones
- 11Change-order rules
- 12Warranty and closeout records
Slow down here
Three questions that expose hidden uncertainty.
What would make this price change?
Ask for the exact allowance, unit-price, concealed-condition, escalation, and change rules.
What happens when the schedule slips?
Ask how delays, unavailable products, failed inspections, owner decisions, and weather are documented.
What do I receive at the end?
Name every approval, warranty, manual, receipt, waiver, photograph, key, code, and final record.
Build my before-signing record
Turn the interview into a printable decision record covering scope, price, time, payments, changes, warranty, and unresolved questions.
Sources and limits
Use the source that controls the answer.
An interview cannot verify workmanship, insurance coverage, licensing relevance, legal compliance, or future performance by itself. Check claims through official records and the issuing insurer or agency where appropriate.