Licensing and protection
1. What is your L&I registration number? You want this so you can confirm them on lni.wa.gov. A registered Washington contractor carries a surety bond and liability insurance, and hiring an unregistered one is illegal and strips your protections. If they dodge this question, the interview is over. Here is exactly how to verify a contractor's license.
2. Are your bond and insurance current? Registration includes a bond and liability coverage, but both can lapse. Ask, then confirm on the L&I record.
3. Will your crew or subcontractors be doing the work? Find out who is actually on site and whether subs are also registered.
Scope, permits and timeline
4. Who pulls the permits? A pro pulls and manages permits and inspections. If a contractor wants you to pull the owner permit so they avoid the paper trail, that is a warning sign.
5. What exactly is included in your bid? Demolition, cabinets, countertops, plumbing, electrical, flooring, finishes. The more detail, the easier it is to compare bids fairly.
6. What is not included? Exclusions are where surprise costs hide. Ask directly.
7. What is your realistic timeline, start to finish? Listen for honest talk about product lead times and inspections, not just a happy best case.
8. How do you handle change orders? They should be priced and approved in writing before the work happens, every time.
Money
9. What does your payment schedule look like? You want milestone payments tied to completed work, not a big lump sum up front. Be cautious about large deposits and never pay in full before the job is done. See how much of a deposit is reasonable in Washington.
10. What warranty do you offer on labor? Get the workmanship warranty in writing, separate from any manufacturer warranties on products.
Track record and communication
11. Can I have three recent references with similar projects? Then call them. Ask whether the job finished on budget and on time, and how problems were handled.
12. Who is my day-to-day point of contact? One clear person who answers calls and texts is worth a lot when questions come up mid-project.
Run these questions past every contractor on your list and the right choice usually becomes obvious. Pair this with the full checklist for choosing a remodeler and our advice on how many quotes to get.
Want a head start on a shortlist worth interviewing? Get free quotes from vetted, licensed Washington pros and ask them these questions yourself.