Hire a Contractor Safely Checklist
Coming to our Etsy shop this week. Until it is listed there, you can buy it now through Gumroad.
Visit the Etsy shopBuy now on GumroadGumroad: secure checkout and an instant download link on screen and by email.
Made by a working carpentry and remodeling contractor.
Hiring a contractor is one of the bigger checks most homeowners write, and it is usually done in a hurry. This checklist slows the process down just enough: define the job, check each contractor yourself, ask the right questions, compare bids on the same scope, read the contract, and pay in a way that protects you.
It is written by a working remodeling contractor, from the other side of the table: what a good contractor expects you to ask, and what should make you walk away.
The 8-page fillable PDF
- Define your project, so every bidder prices the same thing
- Check each contractor: license or registration and insurance, on official websites, yourself
- Questions to ask before you hire
- Compare bids, not just totals
- Before you sign the contract
- Pay safely and watch for red flags
- During and after the job
The bid comparison spreadsheet
Line up to four bids side by side in Excel or Google Sheets: seven contractor checks, price, deposit, payment schedule, start date, warranty and twelve "what is included" items such as exclusions, allowances, permits, disposal and cleanup. It counts checks passed and items included, shows each bid's difference from the lowest, and shows the deposit as a percentage of the bid. You enter every amount; nothing is pre-filled.
Good for
A kitchen or bathroom remodel, a roof, an addition, or any job big enough to get more than one bid.
Questions
Is there a free version?
Yes. A one-page version of the checklist is free on our questions to ask a contractor guide page. The full kit adds the step-by-step pages and the comparison spreadsheet.
Does it tell me my state rules?
No. Rules for licensing, deposits and contracts vary by state, so the checklist tells you what to look up and where, rather than guessing.
Can I fill it in on screen?
Yes. The PDF is fillable, or print it.
Preview pages
Watermarked sample pages. Your download comes without the watermark. Click to enlarge.
Ready to get it?
Coming to our Etsy shop this week. Until it is listed there, you can buy it now through Gumroad.
Visit the Etsy shopBuy now on GumroadGumroad: secure checkout and an instant download link on screen and by email.
Guide only, not legal advice. Rules vary by state: check your state's consumer protection or contractor registration agency.
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