15 Questions to Ask a Contractor Before Hiring in Canada

Project and experience

• 1. How often do you do this exact type of project?
• 2. Can you show recent examples or references for similar work?
• 3. Who will supervise the job and who will be my main contact?

Credentials and local requirements

• 4. Does this work require a licence, registration or trade credential here, and what number should I verify?
• 5. What liability insurance do you carry for this work?
• 6. What workers’ compensation or clearance check applies in this province or territory?

Scope and price

• 7. What exactly is included in the quote?
• 8. Which items are allowances rather than fixed selections?
• 9. What is specifically excluded?
• 10. How will hidden conditions or extra work be priced and approved?

Permits, subcontractors and site logistics

• 11. Which permits or inspections do you expect, and who will arrange them?
• 12. Which parts of the work will be subcontracted?
• 13. Who protects the home and handles daily/final cleanup?

Schedule and payments

14. What is the expected start window and what can move it?

15. What payment milestones do you propose, and what work or materials correspond to each payment?

What you are listening for

Strong answers are usually specific enough to verify and clear enough to put into a quote or contract. A contractor does not need to know every municipal answer on the spot, but they should be comfortable identifying what needs to be confirmed before work begins.