What to Look for in a General Contractor: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire

Hiring a general contractor is one of the biggest financial decisions a homeowner makes. Get it right and your project comes in on time, on budget, and exactly as you envisioned. Get it wrong and you're looking at delays, cost overruns, shoddy work, or worse — a contractor who disappears with your deposit.

After 25 years of building homes and managing projects across Utah, we've seen it all. Here are the 10 questions every homeowner should ask before signing a contract with any general contractor.

This is non-negotiable. In Utah, general contractors must be licensed through the Division of Occupational and Professional Licensing (DOPL). You can verify any contractor's license at the DOPL website in about 30 seconds.

What to ask for:

• Utah contractor's license number (verify it yourself)
• General liability insurance certificate (minimum $1 million per occurrence)
• Workers' compensation insurance (protects you if a worker is injured on your property)

If a contractor hesitates to provide any of these, walk away. An unlicensed or uninsured contractor puts you at serious legal and financial risk.

Experience matters in construction. A contractor who has been in business for 10+ years has weathered economic downturns, supply chain disruptions, and the inevitable challenges that come with complex projects.

Longevity also signals reputation. Contractors who do poor work don't stay in business long in a community like Utah, where word travels fast.

What to look for: At least 5 years in business, ideally 10+. Ask specifically about experience with your type of project — a contractor who specializes in commercial work may not be the right fit for a custom home.

Any reputable contractor should be able to show you photos of completed work — ideally projects similar to yours. Better yet, ask if you can visit a completed project in person or speak with a past client.

Red flags:

• No portfolio or photos
• Only stock images on their website
• Unwillingness to provide references

A contractor who is proud of their work will be eager to show it off.

Many homeowners are surprised to learn that the person they hired — the GC — may rarely set foot on their job site. Some contractors operate as brokers, hiring out all the work to subcontractors and managing from a distance.

This isn't necessarily bad, but you need to know who is responsible for day-to-day quality control and communication.

What to ask:

• Will you personally be on site, or will a project manager oversee the work?
• Who is my primary point of contact?
• How often will you visit the site?

At Chris Anderson Construction, Chris is personally involved in every project. You're not handed off to a junior project manager after signing the contract.

Most general contractors use subcontractors for specialized trades — plumbing, electrical, HVAC, framing. This is standard practice. What matters is how they manage those relationships.

Questions to ask:

• Do you use the same subcontractors consistently, or do you hire whoever is cheapest?
• Are your subs licensed and insured?
• How do you handle a subcontractor who does poor work?

A GC with long-term relationships with reliable subs will deliver better results than one who shops for the lowest bid on every project.

A professional contractor will provide a detailed written contract before any work begins. Be very cautious of anyone who wants to start work on a handshake or a vague one-page agreement.

Your contract should include:

• Detailed scope of work (what is and isn't included)
• Material specifications (brands, grades, quantities)
• Payment schedule tied to project milestones
• Start and estimated completion dates
• Change order process and pricing
• Warranty terms
• Dispute resolution process

If a contractor pushes back on any of these, that's a warning sign.

Be very wary of any contractor who asks for more than 10–15% upfront before work begins. Large upfront payments are one of the most common ways homeowners get burned.

A reasonable payment schedule:

• 10–15% deposit at contract signing
• Progress payments tied to completed milestones (foundation complete, framing complete, etc.)
• Final payment (10–15%) held until punch list is complete and you're satisfied

Never pay in full before the work is done. A contractor who needs a large upfront payment to "buy materials" may have cash flow problems — which often means your project stalls while they use your money to finish someone else's job.

Changes happen on almost every project. The question is how your contractor handles them.

What to look for:

• A clear written change order process
• Pricing provided before work begins on any change
• Your signature required before any change order work starts

Avoid contractors who make verbal agreements about changes and settle up at the end. This is how "small changes" turn into thousands of dollars of unexpected costs.

Quality contractors stand behind their work. Ask specifically:

• What is your workmanship warranty? (1 year is standard minimum; 2 years is better)
• How do you handle warranty claims?
• Are you still in business to honor the warranty?

Also understand the difference between the contractor's workmanship warranty and manufacturer warranties on materials. Your GC should help you understand both.

Ask for 3–5 references from projects completed in the last 2 years — ideally projects similar to yours. Then actually call them.

Questions to ask references:

• Did the project come in on budget?
• Was it completed on time?
• How did the contractor handle problems when they came up?
• Would you hire them again?
• Is there anything you wish you had known before hiring them?

That last question often produces the most honest answers.

After you've done your due diligence — verified the license, checked references, reviewed the contract — trust your instincts. You're going to be working closely with this person for months. If something feels off in the initial meetings, it usually doesn't get better once the project starts.

The best contractor relationships are built on clear communication, mutual respect, and shared expectations. If a contractor is dismissive of your questions, vague about details, or pressures you to sign quickly, those are signs of how they'll handle problems during the project.

We've been building and remodeling homes across Utah for over 25 years. Every project comes with:

• Full licensing and insurance — verified and current
• Personal involvement from Chris on every project
• Detailed written contracts with no surprises
• Transparent change order process
• 2-year workmanship warranty
• References available from recent projects in your area

We serve Utah County, Wasatch County, Salt Lake County, Juab County, Sanpete County, and Millard County.

Ready to talk about your project? Call Chris directly at (435) 660-1376 or request a free estimate — no pressure, no obligation.