Five Questions for your Contractor Before you Commit

Before you hire a contractor to build or remodel your home, do your homework. A large-scale home project can be one of the biggest investments of your lifetime. Selecting a high-quality general contractor will result in a better project and provide peace of mind. Hire a not-so-great one? Well, it may result in wasted time, stress, and avoidable debt.

Don’t commit to a crew, before asking these five essential contractor questions. Learn how to spot red flags and green flags throughout the process. Homeworks Construction, a design-build general contractor who has been building for Oahu families for more than 30 years, recommends these essential questions.

1) Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?
This is a yes or no question.

✅  Green Flag: The contractor quickly provides proof of licensing, insurance, and bonding, and explains what each covers. When you look up the contractor’s license on the DCCA website, it is there, active, and associated clearly with the company.
❌ Red Flag: They are vague, dismissive, or suggest using another’s company’s license. If you can’t find the number they provided or if you hear, “You don’t need to worry about that,”—you definitely do.

2) Can I See Past Work and Talk to Previous Clients?
Always hire a company with experience building what you want. No experience? No thank you.

✅  Green Flag: They have a portfolio of similar projects and are proud to connect you with happy homeowners. If they are a custom builder, you see variation and customization in the work.
❌ Red Flag: They offer just one reference (usually a friend or relative) or can’t show any recent work. That’s a big no.

3) What’s Your Project Timeline and Availability?
How long will the project take and when can you start?

✅  Green Flag: They provide a realistic schedule, discuss permitting, and explain how they handle delays as well as things that impact the timeline. A good builder is probably busy, so don’t expect to start tomorrow.
❌ Red Flag: Overpromising is a red flag. If they say they can start tomorrow and finish your full remodel in two weeks—be skeptical.

4) What’s Included in the Estimate, and How Do You Handle Changes?
Understand what’s covered in the estimate AND what your responsibilities are as the homeowner. Change orders? Unexpected challenges?

✅  Green Flag: You get a detailed, itemized estimate that covers labor, materials, and contingencies. Your allowance for lighting, appliances and finishes is budgeted and enough.They explain their change order process clearly.
❌ Red Flag: “We’ll figure it out as we go,” is a recipe for cost overruns and frustration. Know your budget and make sure you know where it’s going. No timeline, no estimate, means no plan and no peace.

5) Who Will Be On-Site, and How Will We Stay in Touch?
Will you ever see them again? I call and leave messages, but they don’t call me back. Left on read.

✅  Green Flag: The company has a designated project manager and site supervisor and a communication plan—texts, emails, weekly updates, etc. Company have a dashboard to access? Even better.
❌ Red Flag: “Just call me if you have a problem.” This usually means poor oversight and missed details. Once something goes wrong, it can snowball quickly and be expensive to change course.

One Last Tip:
Do a little digging online—look at reviews, check the DCCA website, the company’s BBB rating, and even social media accounts. The right contractor should be forthcoming, easy-to-find online, and transparent about the process. If they don’t want to talk about it before you get into the relationship, don’t start

Homeworks Construction provides no-cost consultations to answer contractor questions before you begin the process. Request a consultation on their website homeworkshawaii.com, or send their team an email at mrh@homeworkshawaii.com. Visit Homeworks’ Honolulu office at 2111 S. Beretania St. or call (808) 955-2777 to guide you in your next project.

For additional renovation insights, check out Homeworks Construction’s article, Your Guide to a Simple, Spacious, and Efficient Home Build.