15 Questions to Ask a Contractor Before Hiring in San Jose

Quick Answer: Before hiring a contractor in San Jose, ask these 5 critical questions: (1) What is your CSLB license number and can I verify it? (2) Do you carry general liability and workers’ comp insurance? (3) Will you pull all required permits? (4) What is the payment schedule? (5) Who will be on site daily supervising the work? Getting clear answers protects you legally and financially.

15 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Contractor in San Jose

Licensing and Insurance (Non-Negotiable)

• 1. What is your CSLB license number? — Verify on CSLB.ca.gov. Any licensed contractor can recite their number from memory. Hesitation is a red flag.
• 2. Are you licensed for this type of work? — A Class B license covers general remodeling; specialty work (electrical, plumbing) requires trade-specific licenses.
• 3. Do you carry general liability insurance? — Ask for a certificate of insurance. You should be named as additionally insured for the project.
• 4. Do you carry workers’ compensation insurance? — If a worker is injured on your property without workers’ comp, YOU can be held liable.

Project Management and Process

• 5. Who will be on my job site every day? — A project manager or lead carpenter should be on site daily, not just the owner who sold you the job.
• 6. Will you pull all required permits? — Legitimate contractors pull permits in their name. If they ask you to pull permits, walk away.
• 7. Who are your subcontractors, and are they licensed? — Licensed GCs use licensed subs for plumbing and electrical. Ask for their license numbers too.
• 8. How many projects do you have running simultaneously? — More than 3–4 simultaneous projects may mean your job gets neglected.
• 9. What is your communication process? — How often will you provide updates? Who is the primary contact for questions?

Contract and Financials

• 10. What is the payment schedule? — California law limits the initial deposit to 10% or $1,000 (whichever is less) for projects over $500. Milestone-based payments are standard.
• 11. What is included in your price? What is excluded? — Get an itemized scope in writing. Vague proposals lead to change orders.
• 12. How do you handle change orders? — All changes should be documented in writing before work is done, with cost and schedule impact.
• 13. Do you provide a written warranty? — 1 year on workmanship is standard; longer warranties on specific systems are a sign of quality work.

References and Track Record

• 14. Can you provide references from recent similar projects? — Call at least 2–3 references and ask specifically about schedule adherence and issue resolution.
• 15. Can I see a completed project similar to mine? — Seeing actual completed work is the best way to assess quality.

Quartz Construction welcomes all these questions and more. CSLB #1003436 (active, Class B) | BBB A+ | 4.9⭐ | 65+ verified reviews. Schedule a free consultation or call (650) 749-7436.

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Quartz Construction & Remodeling | CSLB #1003436 | Licensed, Bonded & Insured

Phone: (650) 749-7436

Address: 1777 Hamilton Ave #1080, San Jose, CA 95125

Hours: Mon–Sat 7am–7pm | Free Estimates

Service Area: San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale, Mountain View, Los Gatos & Bay Area