Hiring a Contractor Checklist

• Verify contractors NJ Home Improvement Contractor’s License.

• Verify contractor has both liability and workman’s compensation coverage.

• How long has the contractor been in business?

• Is your contractor just a salesman (marketing expert) who is going to sub out your work to another company? If so are these sub-contractors, licensed and insured?

• Contact Consumer Affairs and go online to NJ.org to see if consumers have filed any complaints against the contractor and to ensure the contractor is registered.

• Ask for referrals and contact the references your contractor gives you. Ask them whether the job was completed on time, whether there were any unexpected costs, whether the workers showed up on time and cleaned up when they finished, and whether they would use the contractor again.

• Do not pay for the entire job up front. The customary arrangement is one-third in advance, one-third halfway through the job and one-third upon completion. Do not pay with cash.