What license number should I ask a contractor for before hiring?

Ask for their CSLB (Contractors State License Board) license number, then verify it yourself at cslb.ca.gov. A legitimate contractor provides this immediately. The license status must show Active, not Expired, Suspended, or Revoked.

Who will actually be on site managing my renovation day-to-day?

Ask specifically who will be the on-site supervisor every day. Many homeowners hire based on the salesperson or principal, then get a different site supervisor. Confirm the name and role of the person you're actually working with before signing.

How should a contractor handle change orders?

The right answer is written change orders with itemized costs, signed by both parties before any additional work proceeds. Any answer involving verbal authorizations or 'we'll sort it out later' is a red flag.

Should a contractor pull permits or should I as the homeowner?

A licensed contractor should pull permits in their own name. If they suggest you pull permits as an 'owner-builder' to save money, decline — this shifts all legal liability for the work onto you and can create serious problems when you sell the property.

What deposit can a contractor legally require in California?

Under California law, licensed home improvement contractors cannot require a deposit greater than 10% of the contract price or $1,000, whichever is less. Any request for 20%, 30%, or 50% upfront is a serious red flag and may indicate the contractor is unlicensed or in financial trouble.

What warning signs should make me pause during a contractor interview?

Red flags include: 'We don't need a written contract for a job this size' (California requires written contracts for any home improvement over $500), 'Don't worry about permits, I know the inspectors' (an invitation to unpermitted work), 'This price is only good if you decide today' (high-pressure sales tactic), and refusing to share references.

What actually makes you different from Angi or HomeAdvisor?

Those platforms sell your contact information to multiple contractors who then call you. We don't do that. We talk to you first, understand your project, then handpick 2–3 contractors who are actually right for it. We're not a marketplace — we're more like a knowledgeable friend who happens to know every licensed contractor in LA.

This is really free? What's the catch?

No catch. We charge a small advisory fee to the contractor we place — only after they've been introduced and you've decided to work with them. You never pay us anything. Good contractors value a qualified, well-prepared client. They'd rather pay our fee than spend hours on calls with homeowners who aren't ready.

How do you actually pick the right contractor for my project?

We start by understanding your project in detail — scope, budget, timeline, the type of home you have. Then we go through our network and look for contractors who've done similar work in your area, don't have capacity issues right now, and have a track record we can actually point to. We call references, not just collect them.

I've already gotten bids. Can you still help?

Yes — this is one of the most common situations. Contractors format proposals in ways that make them hard to compare. We take everything apart and put it back together in a format where the differences are obvious. It usually changes which bid looks best.

Which parts of Los Angeles do you work in?

All of greater Los Angeles — Westside, San Fernando Valley, Pasadena, South Bay, Northeast LA, the Eastside. Permitting in LA is jurisdiction-specific, and our contractors know the differences between LADBS, Santa Monica, Culver City, Burbank, and the others.

What if I don't like the contractors you introduce me to?

Tell us what didn't feel right — too expensive, wrong specialty, something felt off in the first call — and we'll go back and find different options. We'd rather take another pass than have you sign with someone you're unsure about.

How do you vet the contractors in your network?

License verification through CSLB, insurance verified in real-time through TrustLayer, financial stability check, past project photos reviewed, and reference calls with actual past clients. We ask the uncomfortable questions — how did they handle a problem, did the budget hold, would you hire again. We accept fewer than 1 in 10 contractors who apply.

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Remodeling Contractor in Los Angeles

About Their Qualifications

1. "What is your CSLB license number, and can I verify it before we proceed?"
A legitimate contractor gives this immediately. Verify yourself at cslb.ca.gov. Never skip this step.

2. "Can you provide a certificate of insurance directly from your broker?"
Ask for general liability (minimum $1M per occurrence) and workers' compensation. The certificate should come from their insurer, not from them — documents can be falsified.

3. "How long have you been working in Los Angeles, and which jurisdictions do you have experience with?"
LA's permitting environment varies by city (LADBS, Santa Monica, Culver City, Beverly Hills). Local jurisdiction knowledge is meaningful.

4. "Who specifically will be on site managing my project day-to-day?"
Many homeowners hire based on the salesperson, then get a different site supervisor. Confirm who you're actually working with.

About Their Process

5. "Walk me through how you'd sequence this project from day one."
A confident contractor describes the sequence clearly: permits → demo → rough-in → inspections → close → finish trades. Vague answers signal inexperience.

6. "What are the biggest risks on a project like mine, and how would you handle them?"
A contractor who can articulate specific risks — and specific solutions — has done this before. Generic answers are a yellow flag.

7. "How do you handle change orders?"
The right answer: written change orders with itemized costs, signed before work proceeds. Any answer involving verbal authorizations is a red flag.

8. "Are you pulling all permits for this project? Which permits will be required?"
A licensed contractor should pull permits in their name. If they suggest you pull them as "owner-builder" to save money — that shifts all legal liability onto you.

About Their Subcontractors

9. "Which subcontractors would you use for this project? Are they your regulars?"
Established sub relationships mean predictable quality and scheduling. First-time sub relationships carry more risk.

10. "Are your subcontractors licensed and insured?"
The GC's insurance doesn't automatically cover subcontractors' work. Ask explicitly.

About Their Financials

11. "What deposit do you require?"
Under California law, licensed contractors cannot require more than 10% or $1,000 upfront, whichever is less. Any request for 20–50% upfront is a serious red flag.

12. "How do you manage cash flow across multiple projects?"
A contractor who draws from one client to fund another is a serious financial red flag.

About Their References

13. "Can I speak with three past clients whose projects are similar to mine?"
Always ask for, and always call, references. Ask specifically about how problems were handled.

14. "Can you give me an address where I can look at your exterior work?"
Legitimate for roofing, ADUs, additions, and exterior work.

15. "If something you thought was straightforward turns out to be complicated, how have you handled that with past clients?"
Real examples are what you're listening for. This reveals character more than any other question.

Questions That Should Make You Pause

"We don't need a written contract for a job this size" — In California, any home improvement work over $500 requires a written contract.
"I can start tomorrow" — Good contractors are in demand. Immediate availability can mean they just lost another job.
"Don't worry about permits, I know the inspectors" — This is an invitation to unpermitted work. Decline.
"This price is only good if you decide today" — High-pressure sales tactic, not legitimate business practice.
"References are private / I can't share them" — Contractors with satisfied clients share references freely.