10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring Any Home Service Pro

Most homeowners hire contractors based on price and gut feeling. That approach works sometimes — and fails expensively the rest of the time.

The homeowners who consistently get great results do something different: they ask the right questions before anyone picks up a tool. These questions are not complicated, and they do not require any special knowledge. But the answers reveal everything you need to know about whether a contractor is worth hiring.

Here are the 10 questions to ask — and what good answers look like.

This is the first question, every time, no exceptions.

In Arizona, contractors must be licensed by the Arizona Registrar of Contractors (ROC) to perform most types of home service work. Different license types cover different trades — electrical (CR-11), plumbing (CR-37), HVAC (CR-39), general contracting (B-1), and more.

What a good answer looks like: The contractor provides their ROC license number without hesitation. You can verify it at roc.az.gov in 30 seconds.

Red flag: Hesitation, vague answers ("I've been doing this for 20 years"), or a claim that their type of work does not require a license. Most home service work in Arizona does require a license.

If a contractor damages your property or a worker is injured on your job, you need to know who pays.

General liability insurance covers damage to your home or property caused by the contractor's work.

Workers' compensation insurance covers medical costs if a worker is injured on your property. Without it, you could be held liable.

What a good answer looks like: The contractor says yes to both and offers to provide a certificate of insurance (COI). Request one before work begins.

Red flag: "I'm a solo operator, I don't need workers' comp" — this may be true for a sole proprietor with no employees, but verify it. If they have helpers on the job, those helpers need to be covered.

Permits exist to protect you. When a permit is pulled, a city inspector verifies the work meets code. This matters for your safety, your insurance, and your ability to sell the home.

What a good answer looks like: "Yes, I'll pull the permit and schedule the inspection. The cost is included in my quote."

Red flag: "We don't need a permit for this" when the work clearly requires one (electrical, plumbing, structural, HVAC, additions). Or: "You can pull the permit yourself" — this shifts liability to you and is a common tactic among contractors who want to avoid inspection.

A verbal quote is not a quote — it is a starting point for a conversation that will end with you paying more than you expected.

A written quote should specify:

• Exactly what work will be performed
• Materials to be used (brand, grade, quantity)
• Labor costs
• Timeline
• Payment schedule
• What is NOT included (so there are no surprises)

What a good answer looks like: The contractor provides a detailed written quote within 24–48 hours of the site visit.

Red flag: Reluctance to put anything in writing. Vague line items like "labor and materials" with no breakdown. Pressure to sign immediately before you have time to review.

How a contractor structures payments tells you a lot about how they operate.

What a good answer looks like: A small deposit (10–15%) to secure the start date, with progress payments tied to specific milestones, and a final payment (10–15%) held until the work is complete and you are satisfied.

Red flag: Asking for 50% or more upfront. Asking for full payment before work begins. Pressure to pay in cash only. In Arizona, it is illegal for a contractor to require more than 1/3 of the contract price as a down payment for projects over $1,000.

Many contractors win jobs and then subcontract the work to others. This is not inherently bad — it is standard practice in construction — but you deserve to know who will be in your home.

What a good answer looks like: The contractor explains clearly whether their own employees will do the work or whether they use subcontractors, and confirms that all subs are licensed and insured.

Red flag: Evasiveness about who will be on the job. A contractor who shows up for the estimate but sends an unlicensed crew to do the work.

Past performance is the best predictor of future results. Ask for two or three references from projects similar to yours — not just the contractor's best jobs, but recent ones.

What a good answer looks like: The contractor provides references without hesitation. When you call them, they confirm the work was completed on time, on budget, and to their satisfaction.

What to ask references:

• Was the work completed on time and on budget?
• Did the contractor communicate well throughout the project?
• Were there any surprises, and how were they handled?
• Did the work pass inspection?
• Would you hire them again?

Red flag: Reluctance to provide references. References who give vague or unenthusiastic answers. References who cannot be reached.

Materials often come with manufacturer warranties, but what about the work itself? If a repair fails or an installation develops a problem, who pays to fix it?

What a good answer looks like: A clear statement of the labor warranty — typically 1 year for most home service work, longer for major projects like roofing or HVAC installation.

Red flag: No warranty on labor. Vague answers like "we stand behind our work" without specifics. A warranty that requires you to use only their company for any future work (a common tactic to lock you in).

In home improvement, surprises happen. A plumber opens a wall and finds water damage. A roofer removes old shingles and finds rotted decking. How a contractor handles these situations separates professionals from amateurs.

What a good answer looks like: "If we find something unexpected, we'll stop work, show you what we found, explain the options, and get your approval before proceeding. Any additional work will be documented in a written change order."

Red flag: A contractor who just proceeds with additional work without telling you — and then presents a much larger bill at the end. Or one who dismisses the question with "don't worry, we'll figure it out."

A project that drags on indefinitely is one of the most common homeowner complaints. Get specifics upfront.

What a good answer looks like: A specific start date and estimated completion date. A clear explanation of how they will communicate (daily updates? Weekly check-ins? A project management app?). A point of contact for questions.

Red flag: Vague timelines ("a few weeks, maybe"). No clear communication plan. A contractor who is hard to reach before the project starts — they will be even harder to reach once they have your deposit.

After asking these questions, pay attention to how the contractor made you feel. Did they answer clearly and confidently? Did they seem annoyed by your questions? Did they rush you?

A contractor who is annoyed by reasonable questions is showing you exactly how they will behave when a problem comes up mid-project. A contractor who answers every question thoroughly and patiently is demonstrating the professionalism you want on your job.

Asking these 10 questions takes about 15 minutes. That 15 minutes can save you thousands of dollars and months of stress. The contractors who answer these questions well are the ones worth hiring. The ones who cannot or will not answer them are telling you something important.

Every contractor on TrustedPro USA has been checked for an active Arizona ROC license. Start your search with confidence.

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