Home improvement contractor interview questions almost always include a request for references. The home owner then receives two or three contractor reference letters and there, unfortunately, the matter often ends.

People seem to assume that the presence of contractor reference letters and contact numbers means previous clients were happy with the contractor, and don’t bother to pursue references any further. This is a mistake: Just because a contractor has a list of references doesn’t automatically mean the references are good ones. You can discover many details with a few well placed contractor reference questions.

Contractor Reference Letters

People are funny in some ways: They’ll say things about a contractor in person that they’d never put into a contractor reference letter. People tend to be more tactful in reference letters because they know the contractor will read them. They don’t want to be rude. A contractor reference letter that makes broad, general statements may be hiding potential problems.

So while contractor reference letters can be very useful, they’re no match for talking to the reference in person. Someone who writes a reasonable reference letter might have more concerns about the home improvement contractor in question if you speak face to face.

In addition to requesting contractor reference letters, you’ll also want to ask contractor interview questions. Some of the most common questions you’ll want to ask all potential contractors are the following:

• Can he provide a portfolio exhibiting past home improvements?
• Can he provide a sample home improvement contract?
• How long does he anticipate the project to take?
• What payment schedule will be used?
• When can he start?
• Will he be using subcontractors? If so, will he be responsible for paying them?

Contractor Reference Questions

Ideally, you want to meet any contractor references in person and view the work the contractor performed for the reference. In practice, this isn’t always possible. Some people, understandably, are not willing to let strangers into their homes.

You may have to conduct your reference interview over the phone. Regardless of your forum for this interview, there are certain questions you’ll want to ask. Contractor reference questions include:

• Did the project fall within the estimated budget?
• Was the home improvement contractor easy to work with?
• Was the project handled in a timely manner?
• Were there and delays or complications with the project. If so, how did the contractor handle them?
• Were you satisfied with the finished project?
• Would you use the home improvement contractor again?

Find a Contractor Online

Trying to find a contractor can be difficult, especially if you have no word of mouth recommendations. One option is to find a contractor through online referral sites, many of which allow you to view references and rate contractors. And as anyone who spends time online knows, people don’t hold back when expressing themselves on the Internet. If the contractor’s great, you’ll know. If, however, the reference was displeased, you’ll read about that too!