There is nothing more powerful than to hear from a general contractor’s clients. Make a list of questions in advance and call the company’s references. Hearing the first hand experience of past customers is a powerful tool in learning more about a company.

Ask to see some samples of their work. Sometimes, a portfolio of work may indicate the quality or scope of their experience.

If possible, be on-site for the pre-bid inspection. This may give you an opportunity to meet some of the company’s trade contractors and crew. This is important as these will be the people that will be in your home.

Ask about the timeline of the project and if the company can provide a schedule. This outline often helps customer envision milestones, prepare for larger parts of a project and understand the series of events that will affect their household.

Be particularly careful of the lowest bid. Many times this can raise a red flag and could indicate that the estimate is incomplete or items have been excluded. This can sometimes result in costly change orders or schedule overruns.

Only use contractors that are registered by the Texas Residential Construction Commission as required by state law.