Resources - Questions to Ask a Potential Contractor

How long have you been in business?

Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?

Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors?

Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance? (Always verify this information by calling the insurance carrier. A copy of an insurance certificate does not let you know if the policy is still current - even if the certificate has an expiration date).

Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. require a license to perform home improvements/remodeling. Below are links that can be used to see if a company is licensed in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C.

Maryland: http://www.dllr.state.md.us/license/occprof/homeim.htm
Virginia: http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/dpormainwelcome.cfm
Washington, DC: http://dcra.dc.gov/

What is your approach to a project such as this?

How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?

May I have a list of references with phone numbers from those projects?

May I have a list of business referrals or suppliers and their contact information?

What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?

Are you a member of a national trade association? If so, which ones?

Have you or your employees been certified in remodeling or had any special training or education, such as earning a Certified Remodeler (CR), Certified Remodeler Specialist (CRS), Certified Remodeler Associate (CRA), Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC), Certified Kitchen & Bath Remodeler (CKBR) or Green Certified Professional (GCP) designation?