Five questions to ask before any bid
Five questions to ask before a general contractor makes your shortlist — and some answers that should worry you. Pay as much attention to how they’re answered as to what’s said.
The five questions
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“Who runs my job day to day?” You’re meeting the person who writes the bid, but a foreman runs the site. Ask to meet them or at least know their name. A vague answer here usually means vague supervision later.
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“Which parts will subcontractors do?” Most GCs sub out electrical, plumbing, and HVAC — that’s normal. What you want to know is who, and whether those subs carry their own licenses and insurance.
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“Do you work fixed price or cost-plus — and what’s your payment schedule?” The pricing structure decides who carries the risk of overruns (our pricing guide explains the difference). On the schedule, listen for milestones, not calendar dates. A big up-front number is your cue to read our deposits guide before going further.
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“Can I see a job you finished a year ago?” Fresh work always looks good. A year-old project shows you what settles, cracks, and leaks — and whether the contractor still answers that homeowner’s calls. Our guide to checking references covers what to ask when you get there.
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“What happens when something goes wrong?” Every project has a delay or a mistake eventually. You’re listening for a process — how they communicate, document, and fix it — not a promise of perfection.
Answers that should worry you
Defensiveness at being asked. “We don’t really do formal contracts.” A price that drops sharply the moment you hesitate. Pressure to sign at the kitchen table today — if that already happened, know your three-day right to cancel. None of these are quirks — they’re previews.
Before you sign
- Ask all five questions of every bidder — comparing answers is the point.
- Get references from projects at least a year old.
- Treat reluctance to answer as an answer.