How to hire a contractor without getting burned

Almost every contractor horror story follows one of about five scripts, and all five are avoidable with process — boring, unglamorous process. Here it is.

Before anyone quotes

Know the typical price first. Walking into quotes blind is how anchoring works against you. Our cost guides publish typical South Florida ranges for about a hundred common jobs — two minutes there changes every conversation after.

Check the license where it matters. Roofing, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, structural: verify the license. It takes two minutes and filters out the worst outcomes before they start.

Comparing quotes

• Get the scope in writing. "Redo the bathroom" is not a scope. Materials, fixtures, who pulls the permit, who hauls debris, timeline.
• A dramatically low bid is information. It usually means a change-order business model — the price appears after demolition.
• Ask what's not included. The honest answer to this question tells you more than any sales pitch.

Money rules

• Florida rule of thumb: small deposit, milestone payments. For larger projects, payments should track completed work, never run ahead of it. Walk away from anyone wanting half or more up front on a big job.
• Never pay the final payment before the final walkthrough — and where permits are involved, before the inspection passes.

During the job

Photograph progress. Keep every change in writing, even a text. If a permit is involved, the inspection record is your friend.

Where the platform fits

On this platform, quotes arrive against a visible typical range, chat keeps the scope discussion in writing automatically, and reviews can only be written by customers whose job actually completed — so the track record you're reading is real. Post your task free and let the process work for you.