Ask every remodeler the same short list of questions before you sign anything. That goes for any local company, such as J Pratt Construction Greenville, and for the one a neighbor swears by.
This is for Greenville homeowners planning a kitchen, a bathroom, an addition or a wider refresh in the coming months.
In 30 seconds
- A remodeler should show a license, proof of insurance and a written estimate.
- Compare bids by scope, not by total; vague line items hide gaps.
- Ask who handles permits, inspections and surprises found behind the walls.
- Tie payments to finished stages of work, not a large upfront deposit.
Check the license and insurance first
Ask to see both before you talk about design. A license shows the company is registered to do the work. Insurance shows who pays if someone is hurt or something is damaged on your property.
Don’t take a card or a screenshot on faith. Check the license with your state’s licensing board. Ask for a certificate of insurance, and call the issuer to confirm it’s current.
Ask the same of the subcontractors. Many remodels bring in separate trades for electrical, plumbing and tile, and each should be licensed where the law requires it.
If a company says a license isn’t required for your job, ask where that is written. Rules differ by state and by type of work, and the licensing board can answer in one call.
The projects that run smoothly usually start with dull paperwork. It is a good sign when a company hands it over without being asked twice.
Ask for references and the daily routine
References beat brochures. Ask for the names of past clients you can call, and for photos of finished work similar to yours. A kitchen project should be judged against kitchens, not against a bathroom.
When you call, ask about the schedule, the cleanup and how problems were handled. Every job hits a problem at some point. What matters is the response.
Then ask about the daily routine. Who is on site each day? How are floors, furniture and the rest of the house protected from dust? Is the site cleaned daily or weekly? Where do the dumpster and the materials go?
A company that has run many projects answers these without hesitation. Vague answers are information too.
Compare bids by scope, not by total
Two bids with different totals are often bids for different jobs. One may include demolition, haul-away and cleanup. The other may leave them out and add them later as extras.
Ask each company to explain how it reached its numbers. A good contractor can walk you through the estimate line by line without getting defensive.
Line the bids up side by side. Check the materials, the fixtures, the finish work and who removes the old cabinets or tile.
Look hard at allowances. An allowance is a placeholder for something you haven’t chosen yet, such as tile or faucets. If it’s set low, you pay the difference later.
A very low bid deserves a question, not a celebration. Ask what is in it and what is not.
Be wary of pressure to sign today. A sound estimate is still sound next week.
Get the scope in writing
A handshake and a sketch are not a contract. A written estimate should cover these points:
- Scope of work. What gets built, removed or replaced, room by room.
- Materials. What’s included, and what is an allowance.
- Schedule. A start window, an expected finish and how delays are handled.
- Payments. Amounts tied to stages of finished work.
- Changes. How change orders are priced and approved, in writing, before the work happens.
If something you were told isn’t on the page, it isn’t part of the deal. Ask for it to be added.
Keep every version. When the plan changes, the paper should change with it, and both of you should sign off.
Permits and inspections are part of the job
Ask who pulls the permits. Additions, structural changes and most electrical or plumbing work usually need them. The local building department decides what applies to your project.
Work behind the walls belongs to licensed trades. That covers wiring, gas lines, plumbing and framing. A remodeler who suggests skipping an inspection to save time is telling you something about how they work.
Inspections are a second pair of eyes. They also leave a record, which helps when you sell the house later.
Some homeowners hear that permits are slow or extra. Permits protect you. Unpermitted work can complicate a sale or an insurance claim down the road.
Plan for surprises and for humidity
Older houses hide things. Old pipes, outdated wiring, rot behind tile and water damage often show up only once the walls open. Ask how the company handles discoveries, and what they do to the schedule and the bill. Settle the process in advance: who calls you, how fast, and who approves any extra cost.
Old paint needs care, too. Sanding and demolition can spread dust, so ask how the crew handles it. That is a job for people trained in it, not a weekend project.
Keep a cushion in your own budget for the unexpected. How big depends on the age of the house and the scope of work. Talk it through with the contractor.
Humid summers add one more item. Bathrooms and kitchens need a plan for moisture. A bath fan should send damp air outside, not into the attic. Ask about ventilation and waterproofing before the tile goes up.
Prepare your side of the project
Decide early and put it in writing. Fixtures, cabinets and tile can take time to arrive, and late choices stall the schedule.
- Set up a temporary kitchen. A table, a microwave and a kettle go a long way.
- Agree on working hours. If you work from home, ask which days will be loudest.
- Name one contact. One person on each side keeps instructions from getting crossed.
- Walk the site weekly. Keep a list of questions and settle them in one conversation.
Pets and kids need a plan, too. Dust, open walls and tools are no place for either. A quick word with the neighbors about noise and deliveries keeps the goodwill intact.
Keep one folder, paper or digital, for the contract, change orders, receipts and product details. If something goes wrong later, the folder saves a lot of arguing.
At the end, walk the job with the contractor and write a punch list of anything unfinished. Hold the final payment until the list is done.
Bottom line
A license, proof of insurance and a clear written scope tell you more than any sales pitch. Get two or three written estimates, line them up, and ask each company the same questions.
