Ten questions to ask before you sign with a contractor (and the red flags after a storm)
The questions that separate a licensed, insured contractor from a storm chaser, what the right answers sound like, and the warning signs that show up after every hurricane.
By LicensedAndInsured.com · Updated October 1, 2026 · Not legal advice; confirm requirements with the licensing board in your state.
A good contractor answers all ten of these without blinking. The point is less the answers than how quickly and specifically they come.
The ten questions
- What is your license number, and whose name is it in? Then look it up yourself: any state, or Florida.
- Can you send a certificate of insurance naming me, dated this month? How to read it.
- Who pulls the permit? The answer is “we do, under our license.”
- Who will actually be on site, and are they your employees or subcontractors? Subcontractors need their own licenses and insurance.
- What is the payment schedule? Deposit for materials, milestones, final payment after inspection and lien releases.
- Will you provide lien releases from subcontractors and suppliers? Without them, an unpaid supplier can lien your home even though you paid the contractor.
- What exactly is included, and what is extra? Get it in the written scope: materials by brand and grade, disposal, cleanup, permits, inspections.
- How are change orders handled? In writing, priced, signed by both sides before the work.
- What is the warranty, and who stands behind it? Manufacturer warranties often require installation by certified installers; ask for the paperwork.
- Can I speak to two customers from the last year and one from five years ago? Recent work shows current quality; older work shows whether it lasted.
Red flags after a storm
- They knocked on your door. Established contractors are booked after a storm; the ones with time to canvass are usually from out of town.
- Pressure to sign today, or an offer that expires tonight.
- A demand for cash, or a deposit larger than the materials for your job.
- “We’ll waive your deductible” or “we’ll handle your insurance claim for you.” Both are illegal in Florida for a contractor; public adjusters, who are licensed separately, handle claims.
- No company name on the truck, a license number they have to look up, or a certificate of insurance “in the office.”
- A request that you sign an assignment of benefits before the scope is written.
Florida
Contracting without a required license is a crime in Florida and the penalty increases during a declared state of emergency. Report unlicensed activity to the DBPR. For licensed contractors, Florida also maintains a construction recovery fund that can reimburse certain losses after a judgment; it is one more reason to hire a licensed one. Verified listings on this site show the license status, the identity check and the certificate of insurance with their dates, so the first two questions above are already answered when you call.
Common questions
What are the red flags of a contractor scam after a hurricane?
Door-to-door solicitation right after the storm, pressure to sign today, a demand for a large cash deposit, a truck with no company name, an offer to “waive your deductible,” and an inability to produce a license number and a certificate of insurance on the spot.
How much deposit is normal?
Enough to cover materials ordered for your job, often 10–30%, with the balance tied to milestones and the final payment after inspection. Full payment up front is a warning sign in every state.
Should I pull the permit myself?
No. In Florida and most states, the licensed contractor pulls the permit under their license. A contractor who asks you to pull it as an owner-builder is usually hiding the fact that they cannot.
Hiring in Florida?
Search 95,000+ active Florida contractor license records and see whose credentials were verified, and when. Free.
Related guides
- What “licensed and insured” actually means (and what it doesn’t)
- Licensed vs. bonded vs. insured: three words, three different protections
- How to check a contractor’s license in any state
- How to read a contractor’s certificate of insurance in five minutes
- Does “LLC” or “Inc.” mean a contractor is licensed and insured?