Most hiring mistakes do not come from choosing the wrong trade — they come from asking too few questions before the work starts. Ten questions, asked before you agree to anything, prevent almost all of it. A good pro answers them without hesitation; one who dodges them has told you everything you need to know.
1. Are you licensed and insured — and can I verify it?
Ask for the license number and the name exactly as it appears on the license, then verify it with the state licensing board rather than taking a card at face value. Also ask for proof of liability insurance and, if the pro has employees, workers compensation coverage. This matters because an uninsured worker injured on your property, or damage caused by an uninsured contractor, can become your problem. Our guide How to Check a Contractor's License in Florida walks through the verification steps. For smaller jobs where no license is legally required, insurance still matters — ask anyway.
2. Who will actually do the work?
The person who quotes the job is not always the person who shows up. Ask whether the pro does the work personally, sends employees, or subcontracts it, and who supervises on site. Subcontracting is not a red flag by itself — many good companies use specialists — but you should know who is responsible for quality and who to call if something goes wrong. If the answer is vague, or the person on the phone cannot name who will be in your home, keep looking.
3. Can I have the scope in writing?
A written scope should state exactly what will be done, what materials will be used, what is explicitly not included, and who handles permits and inspections. Vague scopes are where disputes live: a detailed scope leaves little room for argument. Never accept a price for a scope that exists only in conversation, and never sign a blank or incomplete contract to be filled in later.
4. How is the price structured — and what could change it?
Ask whether the price is a fixed quote or an estimate, what conditions could move it, and how changes are handled. Good answers sound like: fixed price for the scope as written, and if hidden damage appears, work stops until a new price is agreed. Also ask about the payment schedule — a deposit for materials is normal, but full payment upfront is not, and final payment should come after you have inspected the finished work.
5. Do you pull permits, and who arranges inspections?
Electrical, plumbing, structural and roofing work often requires permits and inspections, and skipping them can cause problems when you sell the home or file an insurance claim. Ask directly whether the job needs a permit and whether the pro will obtain it. A pro who suggests skipping a required permit to save time or money is asking you to carry the risk for their convenience. The permit fee should appear in the quote, not as a surprise later.
6. How long will it take — and what happens if it runs over?
Ask for a start date, a realistic finish date, and what could delay the job, such as material lead times or weather. For larger jobs, ask whether the pro works on your job continuously or juggles several jobs at once — a crew that disappears for a week mid-job is a common frustration, and it is better surfaced now than discovered later. Get the timeline in the written agreement, along with what happens if the pro is delayed: a simple clause about communication and revised dates prevents most timeline disputes.
7. What warranty do you offer — on labor and on materials?
Manufacturer warranties cover materials; the pro's own warranty covers workmanship, and the two are often confused. Ask how long the labor warranty lasts, what it covers, and how claims are handled — who do you call, and how quickly do they respond? A one-year labor warranty is a common minimum. Get it in writing with the contract, not as a verbal promise.
8. Can I see recent work or speak to a recent customer?
Reviews help, but they are easy to cherry-pick. Ask for photos of recent comparable jobs and, for larger work, a recent customer you can contact. Pay attention to how the pro reacts: a confident pro offers references readily, while a reluctant one may have a reason. When you check reviews, read the negative ones and the responses to them — a company that answers complaints calmly and fixes problems is usually a safer hire than one with only perfect reviews and no responses at all.
9. How will you protect my home and clean up?
Dust, debris, damaged floors and a yard full of offcuts are predictable parts of trade work, and a careful pro plans for them: floor protection, dust barriers, daily tidy-ups, and removal of debris at the end of the job. Ask who is responsible for disposal and whether disposal fees are in the quote. This question also reveals attitude — a pro who has a clear answer has done this many times; one who shrugs has not thought about your home at all.
10. What happens if something goes wrong?
Ask this before there is a problem, while everyone is still friendly. How are defects handled after completion, who do you call, and within what timeframe? A pro with a clear, calm answer — a warranty process and a named contact — is one you can work with. A pro who gets defensive at the question is telling you how the warranty conversation will go later.
The bottom line
Hiring well is mostly a paperwork habit: verify the license and insurance, get the scope, price, timeline and warranty in writing, pay in stages, and inspect before the final payment. Five minutes of questions now saves weeks of dispute later. For a vetted local pro, see Reading only gets you so far. Talk to a reviewed local pro, get a written quote, and pay the business directly — this platform never takes advance payments.Need a handyman pro?