Almost every contractor horror story has the same first chapter: money changed hands before anyone checked who they were dealing with. Vetting a contractor isn’t about being difficult — it’s a 30-minute routine that filters out the operators who count on you skipping it.
In Maryland and DC, the difference between a clean project and a costly one is usually decided before the first dollar moves. A contractor who is licensed, insured, and willing to put everything in writing behaves completely differently from one who isn’t — and the checks below tell you which one is standing on your porch.
Confirm the License Is Real and Current
In Maryland, home-improvement contractors must hold an MHIC license; DC issues its own home-improvement licensing. A license number on a business card means nothing until you look it up and confirm it’s active and matches the company’s name.
Ask for Proof of Insurance — in Writing
You want a current certificate of insurance showing general liability and, if they have a crew, workers’ compensation. Without it, an injury or accident on your property can land on you.
Call Two Recent, Local References
Online reviews can be gamed; a real conversation can’t. Ask for two homeowners in your area from the last six months, and actually call them. Ask whether the job finished on budget and on time.
Get Everything in a Written, Itemized Contract
Scope, materials, start and finish dates, total price, and a payment schedule should all be on paper before work begins. A vague one-line quote is how “extras” multiply later.
Tie Payments to Progress, Never to the Calendar
A reasonable deposit is fine; paying most of the job up front is not. Structure payments around completed milestones so your money always reflects work actually done.
The 30-Minute Vetting Checklist
- License number verified active on the state site
- Current certificate of insurance received
- Two local references called and confirmed
- Written, itemized contract in hand
- Payment schedule tied to milestones, not dates
Common Mistakes Homeowners Make
- Paying a large deposit before verifying the license
- Trusting reviews instead of calling real references
- Accepting a verbal quote and “figuring out the rest later”
- Letting urgency (“I can start tomorrow”) skip the checks
- Never asking for proof of insurance at all
The Bottom Line
Vetting a contractor is the cheapest insurance you’ll ever buy — it costs about half an hour and a few phone calls. The contractors worth hiring expect these questions and answer them easily. The ones who get annoyed are telling you everything you need to know. Check first, pay second.