Questions to Ask Before Hiring Anyone

If you take only one chapter from this guide into every future homeowner decision, take this one. The single strongest predictor of a good outcome isn't the person you hire — it's the questions you asked before you hired them.

These questions apply to almost every trade or service you'll ever bring into your home. They aren't rude. They aren't awkward. Any professional worth working with will welcome them.

• Are you licensed in Florida for the work you're doing at my home?
• What's your license number, and can I verify it?
• Do you carry general liability insurance and workers' compensation?
• Will any part of this work require a permit? If yes, who is pulling it?

• Can I have the full scope of work in writing before we start?
• What's included in this estimate, and what would be considered ‘extra’?
• What's the payment schedule, and is a deposit required?
• What could cause this price to change, and how would you tell me before it did?

• How long have you been doing this specific type of work?
• Can I see two or three recent projects like mine?
• Would you be comfortable sharing references I can actually call?
• What's the most common mistake homeowners make with this kind of project?

• Who is my point of contact from start to finish?
• How and how often will you communicate with me during the work?
• What's your typical timeline, and what could delay it?
• How do you handle changes or unexpected issues once work has started?

• What warranty do you provide on labor? On materials?
• What does your cleanup and daily site care look like?
• Who do I call if something goes wrong six months from now?
• Do you offer a walk-through at the end to review the work together?

• Ask about credentials — license, insurance, permits — before anything else.
• Get the scope, estimate, and payment terms in writing.
• References and specific project examples matter more than star ratings.
• Communication and follow-up policies tell you what the relationship will feel like.
• A professional worth hiring welcomes every question on this list.

The homeowners who get taken advantage of are almost never the ones who ask ‘too many’ questions. They're the ones who felt awkward, stayed quiet, and hoped things would be fine. Your questions are not a burden — they are your protection.

Which question on this list do you tend to skip because it feels uncomfortable — and what would change if you started asking it every time?