Short answer. Ask the 22 questions below before signing any remodel contract in California. They cover license, insurance, references, scope, schedule, payment, and warranty. A qualified contractor answers every one without hesitation.
The interview is the homeowner's best leverage point in a remodel. Once the contract is signed, the leverage shifts. The 22 questions below are the ones we recommend asking every contractor before signing, including us. Reputable contractors welcome the screening. The bad actors push back hardest on these questions, which is exactly why you should ask them.
License and insurance
1. What is your CSLB license number, and which classifications are active?
Verify on the CSLB website immediately. Class B is general building. Specialty trades carry C classifications.
2. Is your license bond current?
California requires a $25,000 bond. Verify on the same CSLB page. An expired bond suspends the license.
3. Do you carry Workers Compensation insurance for all crew?
Confirm with the actual COI. If a contractor uses 1099 subs, ask whether subs carry their own coverage.
4. May I be named as additional insured on your General Liability policy for this project?
Standard practice in California. A refusal is a red flag.
Experience and references
5. How many projects like mine have you completed in the last 24 months?
Local recent experience trumps total years in business. A 30-year contractor who has not done a Title 24 compliant kitchen in 5 years is not the right fit.
6. May I have three references with photos, scope, and final cost?
Call all three. Ask about the punch list, change orders, and whether the contractor showed up on schedule.
7. May I see a project currently in construction?
How a job site looks under their crew tells you everything about how yours will look.
8. Who will manage my project day to day?
The owner who sells the project is rarely the person who runs it. Meet the actual project manager.
Scope and pricing
9. Is this a fixed-price contract or a time-and-materials contract?
Fixed price with allowances is the standard for residential remodel. Time-and-materials shifts cost risk to you.
10. What allowances are in the contract, and what is included in each?
Allowance line items hide future cost. Pin down exactly what is included and what costs extra.
11. What is your change order process?
Change orders should be in writing, signed by both parties, and priced before work begins. Verbal changes lead to disputes.
12. What happens if hidden conditions are discovered at demo?
Plan a clear process and a contingency budget for unforeseen conditions like water damage or knob-and-tube wiring.
Schedule
13. When can construction start, and what is the expected completion date?
A firm start date with a defined completion date keeps both parties accountable.
14. Will this be the only project your crew is working during my build?
Crews split across multiple jobs slip schedules. Understand crew allocation up front.
15. What schedule penalties apply if the project runs long?
Reasonable contracts include both schedule incentives and consequences.
16. Who pulls the permit, and on whose license?
The contractor should pull permits on their license. Owner-pulled permits transfer liability to the homeowner.
Payment and warranty
17. What is the payment schedule, and is it tied to milestones?
California law caps down payment at 10 percent or $1,000. Payments should follow completed milestones, not calendar dates.
18. How much do you hold back until the punch list is closed?
10 percent retention is standard. Pay only when the punch list is signed off.
19. What warranty do you provide on labor and materials?
California implied warranty is one year on most work. Quality contractors offer longer written warranties.
20. How do you handle warranty calls after the project closes?
A clear post-close warranty process separates serious contractors from the rest.
Communication and conflict
21. How will we communicate, and how often?
Weekly site meetings, a daily text update, and a shared project document are standard.
22. What is your process if we disagree on something during the project?
Mediation language in the contract is far better than litigation. Ask for the specific process before signing.
For the verification step, see the CSLB license lookup walkthrough. For the screening framework, read how to choose a general contractor. For project mistakes to avoid, see 11 kitchen remodel mistakes. To start a project, open the contact page.
