Hiring

Most homeowners start the search the same way: a search engine, a handful of names, and a phone call to whoever answers first. The problem is that the information available before you call is mostly marketing. A website can show finished floors without showing the subfloor preparation that made them last, and a five-star average can be built in a month.

The guides in this category are about the checks that happen before money changes hands. They cover how to read a contract for the clauses that matter, how to verify insurance and licensing, and how to tell a careful answer from a confident one. The question list is the working document; the hiring guide puts it in order.

If you only read one thing here, read the twelve questions to ask before you sign. A contract is easier to negotiate before the crew is booked, and the answers you get will tell you more about the job than any showroom visit.

If you are interviewing contractors this week, print the question list and take it with you. It is organized by stage, so you can work through it in order rather than trying to remember everything at the kitchen table.