Homeowner field guide
Questions to Ask a Remodeling Contractor
Ask about scope, responsibilities, documentation, and how surprises are handled before you compare numbers.
Ask who does what
Clarify who prepares drawings, applies for permits, coordinates trades, orders materials, and schedules inspections. A vague answer can hide a real gap in the plan.
Ask how the proposal works
Request written inclusions, exclusions, allowances, payment stages, and a change-order process. Ask what the estimate assumes about concealed conditions.
Verify credentials yourself
Michigan licenses can be checked through the state. For Dearborn or Detroit work, confirm local registration and permit requirements with the city. Do not rely on a logo or a verbal claim.
Bring this into the planning conversation
Ask for the exact legal business identity and the license category relevant to your work. Then confirm it with Michigan LARA and ask the city about registration. During the meeting, pay attention to whether the contractor distinguishes known conditions from guesses. A thoughtful answer to an unknown is often a proposed investigation, not a confident promise.
Questions about the people on site
Ask who will be the day-to-day point of contact and whether specialty work is performed by employees or subcontractors. Find out how changes in personnel are communicated. For a project in an occupied home, ask what time the crew expects access, how deliveries are handled, and who closes the house at the end of each day.
What a complete answer sounds like
A useful answer names the document, decision, or person responsible. “We handle permits” is a starting point; ask who applies, whose name appears on the permit, and how inspection outcomes reach you. If a contractor does not yet know whether a permit is required, the next step should be to check with the municipality, not to guess.