License, insurance, and track record
Start by confirming the builder is legally able to do your work and has done work like it before. These answers should be verifiable, not just verbal.
- What is your California contractor license number, and which classifications does it carry?
- Can you provide a current certificate of general liability insurance and proof of workers’ compensation coverage?
- How long have you been building in Greater Los Angeles?
- Have you built homes or additions similar to mine in size, budget, and site conditions?
- Can I see completed projects and speak with two or three past clients?
Team and communication
Ask who you will actually deal with. The person who sells the job is often not the person who runs it, and the day-to-day lead shapes your experience more than anyone else.
- Who will manage my project day to day, and how many other jobs will they be running?
- How often will I get updates, and in what form — meetings, reports, photos?
- Which work does your own crew perform, and which do you subcontract?
- How do you handle questions from the field that the drawings do not answer?
- What is the best way to reach you, and how quickly do you respond?
Pricing and contract
Most disputes trace back to misunderstandings about what the price covers. Get specific, and get it in writing.
- Is your price fixed, cost-plus, or a hybrid, and why do you recommend that structure for my project?
- What exactly is included and excluded — permits, utility fees, site work, landscaping, appliances?
- Which items are allowances, and how were the allowance amounts set?
- What contingency do you recommend, and who controls it?
- What is the payment schedule, and what milestones trigger each payment?
Schedule and changes
Every project changes along the way. What matters is that changes are priced and agreed before work proceeds, and that the schedule reflects reality.
- What is the realistic schedule, including permitting, and what are the biggest risks to it?
- Which materials have long lead times, and when will they be ordered?
- How are change orders priced, documented, and approved before work proceeds?
- What happens if you discover a hidden condition, such as rot or outdated wiring?
- How do you protect the rest of the house, and the neighbors, during construction?
Closeout and after you move in
The end of a project deserves as much attention as the start. Ask how the builder finishes, and what support continues afterward.
- How do you run the final walkthrough and punch list?
- What documentation will I receive — warranties, manuals, as-built information, permit sign-offs?
- What does your warranty cover, for how long, and how do I request service?
- Who do I call if something goes wrong in the first year?
- Will you return for a check-in after the first season in the house?
How to read the answers
Good answers are specific, written, and consistent. A builder who names the person who will run your job, describes how often you will hear from them, and shows you a sample schedule, budget, or change order is giving you evidence rather than reassurance.
Be cautious with answers that are vague or overly confident. "We never have change orders" or "nothing will come up behind the walls" usually means the builder has not thought about it, not that it will not happen. On older Los Angeles homes in particular, a builder who names likely unknowns and explains how they will be priced is being more honest, not less capable.
Finally, compare answers across builders. If one builder’s schedule is far shorter or price far lower than the others, ask what they are assuming that the others are not. The differences often reveal more than the answers themselves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important question to ask a home builder?
Ask who will run your project day to day and how often you will hear from them. License, insurance, and a portfolio are the baseline, but communication during construction shapes your experience most. A builder who names the person, explains the update rhythm, and shows how changes are approved in writing is demonstrating how the job will actually go.
How do I verify a contractor’s license in California?
Use the free license check on the Contractors State License Board (CSLB) website. Enter the license number or business name to see whether the license is active, which classifications it carries, its bond, its workers’ compensation status, and any public complaint disclosures. Do this before signing a contract or paying a deposit.
Should I get multiple bids from home builders?
Comparing two or three builders is reasonable, but compare the scope as carefully as the price. Bids that look far apart often include different assumptions about allowances, site work, or exclusions. A lower number that leaves out permits, utility connections, or realistic allowances is not actually lower.
What should be in a home construction contract?
A clear scope tied to drawings and specifications, the price and pricing structure, a list of allowances, a payment schedule tied to milestones, a change-order process, the schedule, insurance and license information, warranty terms, and how disputes are resolved. California home improvement contracts also carry specific legal requirements, so read every page before signing.
What are red flags when interviewing contractors?
Watch for a license that cannot be verified, reluctance to provide insurance certificates, pressure to sign quickly, a large cash deposit up front, vague scope with few exclusions, and no written change-order process. In California, a down payment on a home improvement contract is generally limited to 10 percent of the price or $1,000, whichever is less.
