Hiring GuidesHow to hire a remodeling contractor
Vetting, comparing bids, reading the contract and keeping the working relationship healthy once the project is underway.
By Elijah Canfield, Founder, Hire Best Pros · Updated August 26, 2026
Elijah Canfield is the founder of Hire Best Pros. He writes and edits the site's consumer guides, with a focus on how home service and moving projects are priced, scoped and compared.
Hire on scope clarity, verification and communication rather than on price alone. Define the project in writing before you collect bids, verify licensing and insurance directly with the issuing bodies rather than from a copy the contractor hands you, compare bids line by line on the same scope, and agree how changes and payments are handled before work starts.
Key points
- Write the scope before you collect bids, or you will be comparing different projects.
- Verify insurance with the insurer, not with a document forwarded to you.
- Never pay a large deposit that is out of proportion with materials ordered.
Before you call anyone
- Write down what must change, what would be nice, and what is out of scope
- Set a realistic budget range and a separate contingency for the unexpected
- Collect photos of what you want and, just as usefully, what you do not
- Decide your non negotiables on schedule, noise and living in the house during work
Vetting
- Confirm licensing where your state or municipality requires it, using the licensing body's own records
- Confirm general liability and workers compensation coverage directly with the carrier
- Ask who will actually be on site day to day and who your single point of contact is
- Ask for recent references on similar projects and follow up on them
- Look at how they document work: a contractor with clear paperwork usually runs clear projects
Comparing bids
Ask every contractor to bid the same written scope. If one bid is dramatically lower, find out what it excludes rather than assuming it is a better deal. Allowances are the usual hiding place: an allowance for tile or fixtures that is set unrealistically low makes a bid look competitive and shows up as an overage later.
- Same scope, same materials, same allowances
- Line items for demolition, disposal, permits and cleanup
- Payment schedule tied to milestones rather than dates
- Written change order process, including how pricing is set for changes
- Start date, expected duration and what happens if the schedule slips
Ready to collect comparable bids?
Find remodeling helpWorking together once the project starts
- Agree on a communication rhythm: one weekly check in beats a dozen interruptions
- Put every decision and change in writing, even small ones
- Raise concerns early and directly rather than saving them for the end
- Keep decisions and selections ahead of the schedule so the crew is never waiting on you
- Do a punch list walkthrough together before the final payment
Common questions
- How many bids should I get?
- Three is a common and workable number. Fewer leaves you without context, and many more tends to slow the project down without improving the decision.
- What is a reasonable deposit?
- Deposits should relate to materials being ordered and mobilization, not to a large share of the total. Some states cap deposits for home improvement contracts. Check the rules where you live and keep payments tied to completed milestones.