How to vet a contractor before you sign
Anyone can print a business card. These are the checks that actually predict whether the work gets finished, and they take about twenty minutes.
License and insurance, verified yourself
Ask for the license number, then look it up on the state board website rather than trusting the card. Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you, then call the insurer and confirm it is current. General liability and workers compensation are separate policies, and a contractor carrying only one is half covered.
If a worker is injured on your property without workers compensation, the claim can follow you. That single policy is worth more attention than any review score.
Written scope and a sane payment schedule
Scope, materials, and payment schedule in writing before work starts. A deposit above a third is a warning. Hold the final payment until the job passes inspection and you have walked it yourself.
Never pay in cash without a receipt, and never pay for materials that have not been delivered.
References that are not curated
Ask for three recent jobs in the same category and call them. Then ask each reference one question the contractor cannot script: what went wrong and how was it handled. Every job has something. A reference who cannot name one was coached.
Red flags worth walking away from
Pressure to sign today for a discount, a bid given without measuring, no physical address, a truck with no company name, and a request for the full amount up front. Any two together is enough to move on.
Frequently asked questions
Should I pay a deposit?
A small materials deposit is normal. More than a third before work begins is a warning sign.
What if they cannot produce a license number?
A licensed contractor can produce it immediately. A promise to send it later usually means there is none.
Do I need three quotes?
For anything over a few thousand dollars, yes. Itemised quotes, so they can be compared line by line.
What does a workmanship warranty cover?
Installation defects for a set period. Get the term in writing, and be sceptical of a one-year term on a thirty-year roof.