A contractor site visit is essentially a job interview — except most homeowners don't know the right questions to ask. After seeing thousands of homeowner-contractor relationships, here are the three questions that consistently separate great outcomes from disasters.
1. "Can You Walk Me Through Your Scope of Work Line by Line?"
A good contractor should be able to explain every line item in their estimate without getting defensive. If they say "that's just how we price things," it's a sign they either don't understand their own costs or don't want you to.
What you're really testing: Their depth of knowledge and willingness to be transparent. A contractor who can explain exactly why demo costs $2,500 (labor hours, dumpster rental, disposal fees, dust containment) is someone who's thought through the project. A contractor who just throws out a number is either guessing or hiding margin.
Follow-up questions:
- "What brand and model of [material] are you specifying?"
- "Is this price based on a fixed scope or time-and-materials?"
- "What's not included in this estimate that I should budget for?"
2. "What's Your Change Order Policy?"
Change orders are the #1 source of cost overruns. Before signing, you need to know: How are additional costs communicated? Do you have to approve them in writing before work proceeds? What's the markup on changes? The best contractors have a clear, written process.
A healthy change order process looks like this:
- Contractor discovers an issue or you request a change
- Contractor provides a written change order with scope and cost before any work begins
- You approve or reject in writing
- Only then does the additional work proceed
Red flag: "We'll figure it out as we go" or "I'll just add it to the final bill." These are the contractors who turn a $25,000 project into a $35,000 project — and act surprised when you're upset about the overage.
What's a fair markup on changes? Most contractors charge 15–25% markup on change order materials and labor. This is reasonable — changes disrupt workflow and scheduling. What's not reasonable is a 50%+ markup, which some contractors use to profit from scope changes they could have anticipated.
3. "Who Will Actually Be on Site Every Day?"
Many contractors sell the job personally, then hand it off to a crew you've never met. Ask specifically: Will the person in front of you be managing the project? How often will they be on site? Who's your point of contact if something goes wrong?
What to listen for:
- Great answer: "I'll be on site every morning for the first hour. My lead carpenter [name] will be here full-time. Here's both our cell numbers."
- Acceptable answer: "I manage multiple projects, so I'll be here 2–3 times per week. My foreman [name] is on site daily. You can reach me anytime by phone."
- Red flag: "My guys will handle everything." If they can't name who will be there, you're getting whoever is available — and accountability disappears.
Bonus: Trust Your Gut
If a contractor can't answer these questions clearly and confidently, they're either too new, too disorganized, or too dishonest for your project. Move on.
The best contractor relationships we've seen share three traits: clear communication, written agreements, and a named point of contact who's accountable for your project. Everything else — price, timeline, material choices — flows from that foundation of trust.
