The checks that separate a reliable contractor from an expensive lesson: licensing, insurance, written scope, payment schedule, and red flags.
Most contractor horror stories follow the same script: a good price, a friendly start, a deposit, and then silence. The good news is that almost every bad outcome is predictable if you check five things before signing anything.
In Washington, contractors must be registered with the Department of Labor & Industries. You can check any contractor's registration status for free on the L&I website. Ask for the registration number and verify it yourself rather than taking a number on a business card at face value.
Registration gives you recourse through L&I if something goes wrong. Unregistered contractors leave you with no path except small claims court.
Ask for a certificate of insurance showing both general liability and workers' compensation. If a worker is injured on your property and the contractor has no workers' comp coverage, that can become your problem.
A legitimate contractor will send this without hesitation. Reluctance here is a hard stop.
A quote that says "remodel bathroom — $22,000" is not a scope. You want a document that lists what is included, what materials are specified, what is excluded, and what happens if something unexpected is found behind the wall.
That last point matters enormously in older Everett homes, where opening a wall often reveals rot or outdated wiring.
A reasonable deposit is typically 10 to 30 percent, with progress payments as milestones are completed and a final payment after the work is finished and inspected.
Asking for half the money up front before any work begins, or asking for large cash payments, are both warning signs.
Many contractors quote the job and then send subcontractors you have never met. That is not automatically bad, but you should know. Ask directly: who does the work, and is it your crew or subs?
A small family crew has an incentive to do the job right, because their name is on it and they live in the same area you do.
Pressure to sign today for a discount. Door-to-door offers after a storm. No physical address or no verifiable references. Requests for cash only. A price dramatically lower than every other bid — that usually means something is being left out.
A contractor who shows up on time for the estimate, asks questions about how you use the space, gives you a written scope, and tells you what they would not do. Honesty about limits is a stronger signal than enthusiasm about everything.
Search the contractor's name or registration number on the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website. It shows registration status, bond, and insurance on file.
10 to 30 percent is typical for residential remodeling. Anything above that before work starts deserves scrutiny.
Yes, for any project over a few thousand dollars. Compare scopes, not just totals — the cheapest bid is often cheapest because something was left out.
Free, no-pressure estimate — usually back within one business day.