Hiring the right general contractor can mean the difference between a project delivered on time and on budget — and one plagued by delays, change orders, and communication breakdowns. Use this checklist during your evaluation process.
1. Are you licensed and insured in my state?
Verify active contractor licensing, general liability insurance, workers' compensation coverage, and bonding capacity. Request certificates directly from the insurer.
2. Can you provide relevant project references?
Ask for three projects of similar scope and size completed in the last three years. Speak with those owners about schedule performance, budget adherence, and communication quality.
3. Who will manage my project day-to-day?
Meet the assigned project manager and superintendent before signing. Understand their experience, current workload, and communication practices.
4. What is your safety record?
Request EMR (Experience Modification Rate), OSHA citation history, and safety program documentation. A strong safety culture protects your timeline and liability exposure.
5. How do you handle change orders?
Understand the change order process, pricing methodology, and typical turnaround time for approvals. Transparent change management prevents budget surprises.
6. What is your preconstruction process?
Quality contractors invest in preconstruction — estimating, value engineering, constructability review, and schedule development before breaking ground.
7. How will you communicate progress?
Establish reporting cadence, meeting schedules, and tools (project management software, photo documentation) upfront. Clear communication prevents small issues from becoming major delays.