Licensing, insurance, and business standing
The first six questions have right and wrong answers. If a contractor hesitates on any of these, stop the conversation.
- 1. What's your state contractor license number, and can I verify it online right now?
- 2. Are you insured for general liability and workers' comp? Can I see current certificates?
- 3. How long has the business operated under its current name?
- 4. Do you carry a bond, and for how much?
- 5. Who pulls the permit, you or me? (Answer must be: you.)
- 6. Are you a registered contractor with my city or county?
Who actually does the work
The salesperson who quotes the job rarely swings the hammer. The crew, and how experienced they are with your specific scope, matters more than the company name on the truck.
- 7. Who will be my project manager and how do I reach them?
- 8. Is the install crew W-2 employees or subcontractors?
- 9. If subs, are they with your company on every job or hired per project?
- 10. Who does the tile work, and how many showers have they installed this year?
- 11. Who does the plumbing, and are they licensed separately?
- 12. What happens if my main crew is out sick mid-project?
Scope, timeline, and change orders
The number one cause of remodel regret is scope drift. These questions force the contractor to commit to specifics.
- 13. Is the quote fixed-price, cost-plus, or time-and-materials?
- 14. What isn't included in the quote? (Every quote has exclusions.)
- 15. What's your written change-order process, and who signs off?
- 16. What's the working schedule, days per week, hours per day?
- 17. What's my access to the rest of the house during work?
- 18. What's the specific start date and target completion date?
- 19. What happens to my daily rate if the timeline slips?
Payment schedule
Watch the payment structure carefully. Reputable contractors never ask for more than 30% up front, and they tie draws to specific milestones, not calendar dates.
- 20. What's the payment schedule and what triggers each draw?
- 21. Do you accept credit card, and does that change the price?
- 22. If I need financing, is it in-house or third-party, and what's the APR?
Warranty and post-install
The warranty conversation reveals the contractor's confidence. Weak warranties ("1 year, parts only") usually correlate with weak work.
- 23. What's your workmanship warranty in years, and what does it cover?
- 24. What are the manufacturer warranties on the shower, fixtures, glass?
- 25. Do you handle warranty callbacks yourself, or hand them to the manufacturer?
- 26. What's your typical callback turnaround?
- 27. Can I have three references from projects completed 2–5 years ago (not new ones)?
The red flags this list catches
Contractors who fail these questions typically fail one of these ways: no license (or license under a different name), no insurance (leaves you liable for injuries on your property), payment structure that front-loads risk to you (50% or more up front), no written change-order process (leads to disputes mid-project), and vague warranty language that doesn't specify years or coverage.
| Flag | What it usually means |
|---|---|
| No verifiable license | Unlicensed work - voids insurance and resale disclosures |
| Wants > 30% deposit | Cash-flow issue; your money funds another job |
| No written change orders | Guaranteed dispute mid-project |
| "1-year, parts only" warranty | Weak workmanship confidence |
| References only from last 6 months | No long-term proof the work holds up |
| Skips the permit to 'save money' | Not a discount - a resale and insurance problem |
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Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a contractor's license?+
Every state has an online license lookup. Search "[state] contractor license lookup" - the results are on the state government site. Enter the license number the contractor gave you and confirm the name matches, the license is active, and there are no unresolved complaints.
Is the lowest bid usually the worst?+
Not always, but the lowest bid is almost always missing scope items. Ask what's excluded from every bid before comparing prices. A bid that's 30%+ lower than others usually excludes subfloor repair, plumbing changes, permit fees, or vent fan work - items that surface as change orders once demo starts.
Should I ever pay cash?+
No. Never pay cash for a remodel. Cash payments leave no paper trail if the contractor disappears mid-project or the work fails. Pay by check or credit card so you have documentation.
How much deposit is reasonable?+
10–30% is standard. Some states cap contractor deposits by law (California caps at 10% or $1,000, whichever is less). Anything above 30% up front is a warning sign, reputable contractors have the cash flow to cover initial materials.
Keep planning your remodel
Questions to Ask a Bathroom Remodeler by state
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See your personalized remodel plan in 2 minutes
Tell me a bit about you and I'll tailor the plan to your home and budget. No pressure, no obligation.