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Contractor Checklist

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Our Contractor Checklist is designed to guide you through the essential steps of hiring and working with contractors for your home improvement projects. From understanding different types of contractors to managing contracts, insurance, and timelines, this checklist ensures you don’t miss any critical details. Click Save to start customizing your checklist in our Checklist App, where you can easily sync across devices and collaborate with others involved in the project. Keep everything organized and accessible as you navigate your home renovation journey.
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Toggle Type of contractor status

Type of contractor

Toggle Home building status

Home building

You will probably need a full time general contractor to build a house, as they will have the appropriate contacts and relationships with subcontractors - electricians, plumbers, etc.
Toggle Renovations status

Renovations

A small time contractor who will pitch in himself is a good choice - smaller jobs can be more cost effective if the foreman is also working.
Toggle Landscaping status

Landscaping

A contractor who specializes in landscaping is your best bet as they will have the right contacts - nurseries, greenhouses, etc.
Toggle Light remodeling status

Light remodeling

Look for a specialist in the area you are remodeling - some contractors specialize in kitchens and baths, for example.
Toggle References status

References

Toggle Recommendations status

Recommendations

Ask for the names and numbers of past clients you can check with who will vouch for quality of work done, budget adherence, and professionalism.
Toggle Personal references status

Personal references

Ask for names and numbers of people who will vouch for personal integrity.
Toggle Legal status

Legal

Check to see if the contractor has any lawsuits pending.
Toggle Online status

Online

Google the contractor in search of any information - good or bad.
Toggle BBB status

BBB

Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed.
Toggle Interviewing status

Interviewing

Toggle Company history status

Company history

How long has the contractor been in business? It's best to select a contractor who has been in business at least 5 years.
Toggle Goals status

Goals

Ask the contractor to explain clearly the solution he suggests to reach your goals.
Toggle Quality standards status

Quality standards

Ask what guidelines the contractor uses to determine his quality standards.
Toggle Professional designation status

Professional designation

Ask if the contractor has a specialty designation in any category of home improvement/remodeling.
Toggle Trade membership status

Trade membership

A contractor who is the member of a trade association is more likely to be up to date on current materials, codes and methods.
Toggle Price status

Price

Ask the contractor for a final bid in writing that includes a detailed account of how budgeted funds will be allocated.
Toggle Requirements status

Requirements

Toggle Insurance status

Insurance

Your contractor should carry workman's compensation for anyone injured on your property. They should also carry general liability insurance in case they damage your property.
Toggle Licensing status

Licensing

If you live in a region where licensing is required, make sure your contractor is properly certified and up to date.
Toggle Permits status

Permits

The contractor should demonstrate capability to acquire all the required permits as applicable by local law.
Toggle Contract status

Contract

Toggle Start/end dates status

Start/end dates

There should be a clear timeline for job completion.
Toggle Payment status

Payment

You can expect to pay a deposit upfront and to supply payments at milestones, but the final payment should not be released until the job is completed to your satisfaction.
Toggle Warranty status

Warranty

This should be spelled out in the contract with all parties under obligation clearly identified.
Toggle Dispute resolution status

Dispute resolution

Especially if the job is large, a mediation process should be agreed upon in case of conflict.
Toggle Clean up status

Clean up

Unless you want to be left with a mess, make clean-up by the contractor one of the stipulations for release of final payment.
Toggle Penalties status

Penalties

Write a per day penalty into the contract that will deduct from the price of the job if the contractor does not finish in the time frame agreed upon.
Toggle Bonus status

Bonus

Likewise, a bonus can be offered for completion of the job earlier than planned - but make sure your contractor doesn't cut corners to finish early.

Download or Print this Contractor Checklist

Get a printable version of this checklist in your preferred format: PDF, Word, Excel, or print directly from your browser.

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Presented by:

Nicole Nichols-West

Nicole Nichols-West
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Details

Hiring the right contractor is one of the most important decisions you can make, whether your projects is small, such as a room addition, or large such as a whole house build. Contractors don't just do home construction; they may be employed to take care of projects such as landscaping, various levels of renovation, garage or barn building or fencing. The following checklist may help you select a contractor who will stay the course.  

Tips

Prior to hiring a contractor, it is common to have a designer or consultant look over plans prepared by a professional architect and explain what needs to be done. This information can prove useful when interviewing contractors for the job.

Have a full set of plans and a comprehensive materials list already in hand before sitting down to interview a contractor - this will show that you are aware of what needs to be done and what it will take to do it and can prevent you from being taken advantage of.

Hiring the cheapest contractor can lead to serious problems down the line. A bid significantly lower than all the others can mean shoddy workmanship or sub-standard materials - or both. A breakdown of the cost of both labor and materials should be asked for and gone over carefully to ensure that the job goes smoothly and doesn't fall apart two weeks after completion.

Using local contractors when possible will save time and money. So will using materials from a local source. Paying local markup for material may beat paying freight costs to have materials shipped in, so shop around and get the best deal you can. Once you feel you have both the best material and the best contractor available, you can give the green light for the project to begin, but you should still be as hands on as possible throughout the process.

Who it's for

This Contractor Checklist is for teams that want consistent execution, less rework, and clear ownership.

  • Standardize quality - run the same Contractor steps every time, regardless of who executes
  • Save time - reuse a proven Contractor workflow instead of rebuilding processes from scratch
  • Improve accountability - assign owners and see what's done vs. what's pending
  • Onboard faster - use the Contractor checklist as the SOP and training guide
  • Coordinate across roles - handoffs are clear and everyone works from the same source of truth

How to use it

How to use this Contractor Checklist:

  1. Start by saving it - save as a Template if you'll reuse it, or as a Checklist if it's a one-off project.
  2. Customize it once for your workflow - remove what doesn't apply and add your team-specific steps.
  3. Assign ownership and execute - set owners/due dates where needed and track completion as work happens.
  4. Reuse without rebuilding - when Contractor comes up again, start from your saved version and run it with clear ownership.

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