<p>Most people don't know how to hire a contractor. Not because they're not smart — because nobody teaches this. You learn by getting burned, or by learning from someone who did.</p>

<p>Here's what the first conversation should include.</p>

<h2>Ask for a written estimate</h2>

<p>Not a ballpark. Not "around this much." A written estimate with line items: labor, materials, timeline, and what's excluded. A contractor who won't put it in writing is telling you something.</p>

<p>Two or three estimates on the same job will also teach you a lot about what the job actually costs. Outliers in either direction — suspiciously cheap or unexpectedly expensive — deserve a follow-up question.</p>

<h2>Check for license and insurance before anything else</h2>

<p>In most states this is public record. A licensed contractor has agreed to meet a minimum standard of competence and can be held accountable through a licensing board. Insurance protects you if something goes wrong on your property.</p>

<p>Ask: "Are you licensed in this state? Can I get a copy of your insurance certificate?" A legitimate contractor will say yes without hesitation.</p>

<h2>Ask who actually does the work</h2>

<p>Some contractors sell the job and subcontract the work. That's not automatically bad, but you should know. Ask: "Will you be on-site during the job, or will you be sending a crew?" Know what you're getting.</p>

<h2>Get a payment schedule in writing</h2>

<p>Never pay the full amount upfront. A reasonable structure for most jobs: a deposit to start, a progress payment at a defined milestone, and the balance on completion. If a contractor asks for full payment before work begins, walk away.</p>

<h2>The questions list</h2>

<p>Download the Fixer Nation contractor hiring checklist in the resource library. It covers the questions worth asking before you sign anything: <a href="/resources">fixernation.org/resources</a></p>

How to talk to a contractor without getting taken advantage of

This article is for members