5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a General Contractor in California

Hiring the wrong contractor is one of the most expensive mistakes a homeowner can make. These 5 questions — and how to verify the answers — will protect your investment.

Every year, thousands of California homeowners lose money to unlicensed, uninsured, or simply incompetent contractors. The construction industry has a higher rate of fraud and disputes than almost any other service industry. But protecting yourself doesn't require being an expert — it just requires asking the right questions before you sign anything.

Here are the five questions that matter most, and exactly how to verify the answers.

1. Are You Licensed with the CSLB?

In California, any construction project over $500 in labor and materials requires a licensed contractor. The Contractors State License Board (CSLB) issues and maintains all contractor licenses.

How to verify: Go to www.cslb.ca.gov and look up the contractor's license number. You'll see the license status (active/inactive), the classifications they're licensed for, and any complaints or disciplinary actions. Do this for every contractor you consider — no exceptions.

2. Are You Insured — and Can I See the Certificate?

A licensed contractor is required to carry workers' compensation insurance (if they have employees) and should also carry general liability insurance. If a worker gets hurt on your property and the contractor has no workers' comp, you can be held liable.

How to verify: Ask for a Certificate of Insurance and call the insurance company on the certificate to confirm it's current. Don't accept a verbal confirmation — get the document.

3. Will You Pull All Required Permits?

Any structural work — framing, additions, ADUs, electrical, plumbing — requires permits in California. A contractor who offers to "skip the permits to save you money" is a red flag. Unpermitted work can result in forced demolition, fines, and major problems when selling your home.

A legitimate contractor will include permit fees in the estimate and handle all permit applications. If a contractor asks you to pull the permit as an "owner-builder," be cautious — this transfers legal liability for the work to you.

4. What Does the Contract Include — and Exclude?

California law requires written contracts for projects over $500. Your contract should clearly specify:

• Full scope of work — what exactly is included
• Materials — brand, grade, and quantities
• Payment schedule — tied to project milestones, not arbitrary dates
• Start and estimated completion date
• Change order process — how additional work is priced and approved
• Warranty on workmanship

Never pay more than 10% or $1,000 down (whichever is less) before work begins. This is required by California law for home improvement contracts.

5. Can I See Recent Projects and Talk to Past Clients?

A confident, experienced contractor will have no problem showing you completed projects and connecting you with past clients. Ask for references from projects similar to yours in size and type — a contractor who's built dozens of ADUs is more reliable for your ADU than one who mostly does kitchens.

Check their Google reviews, Yelp, and BuildZoom profile. Look for patterns in negative reviews — complaints about communication, timeline, and "different from quote" pricing are common warning signs.

The Bottom Line

Taking 30 minutes to verify a contractor's license, insurance, and references can save you tens of thousands of dollars and months of headaches. The cheapest bid is almost never the best value.

C Hernandez Construction is fully licensed (Lic. #1106454), insured, and has a 5.0 rating on Google. We're happy to show you past projects and connect you with clients in the Ceres and Modesto area. Contact us for a free estimate.