Questions to Ask Contractors During an Interview

Qualifications

• The contractor in question must have the qualifications to be performing the task. You wouldn't want a first-year novice installing your $10,000 stove, for example, or your $15,000 granite counter top. Find out how much experience the contractor in question has, as well as whether she has gone through an actual apprenticeship program (or equivalent; five to seven years minimum is standard for apprenticeships).

References

• Contractors worth their salt will be proud of the work they have done in the past and will be more than happy to list a dozen of their best references for you. This is important, as it allows you to verify their credentials and have a chance to see what their finished products look like in terms of design, as well as check the quality of the work visually. While fewer references is not necessarily indicative of a poor contractor, be wary of those who give excuses such as "client confidentiality." A professional contractor is proud of his work and has nothing to hide.

Insurance

• Relevant business insurance is a vital component, and necessary when it comes time to actually work on a project. Business insurance not only protects the contractor, but it also protects you, your home, and anything related to the project in case of an accident. Under no circumstances should you work with contractors if they do not already have the relevant insurance.

Warranty

• Be sure the contractors in question are willing to warranty their work. While the industry standard is for contractors to warranty an installation for the same term as the manufacturer's warranty (which varies upon the product/installation/construction materials), some contractors are willing to give extended warranties, while others only give you a one-year warranty. Be wary of contractors willing to warranty their work for only one year.