Home service hiring guides
Plain-English guides for hiring the home services people pay for most. Each covers what to know, questions to ask the contractor, red flags, and where to check licenses.
Hiring basics
Quotes, licenses and insurance, contracts, deposits, and repair-or-replace decisions.
- Getting (and comparing) three quotes
Why three written quotes for the same scope beats any single price, and how to compare them fairly.
- Checking licenses and insurance
How to confirm a contractor is licensed and insured before they set foot on your property.
- Reading a contract before you sign
The clauses that matter most in a home improvement contract, and what's missing in a bad one.
- Deposits and payment schedules
How much to pay up front, when to pay the rest, and the payment red flags that matter.
- Repair or replace?
A practical way to decide whether to fix an aging system or appliance, or replace it.
Outside jobs
Roofing and tree work.
- Hiring for roof repair or replacement
What to compare in roofing quotes, warranties, and how to avoid storm-chaser problems.
- Hiring a tree service
Why insurance matters most for tree work, and what good pruning looks like.
Inside and systems
HVAC, plumbing, electrical and water heaters.
- Hiring for HVAC service or replacement
Maintenance plans, sizing a new system correctly, and comparing replacement quotes.
- Hiring a plumber
Flat-rate versus hourly pricing, trip fees, and getting a fair price in an emergency.
- Hiring an electrician
Why electrical work needs a licensed pro and a permit, and what to ask.
- Replacing a water heater
Tank or tankless, what a fair quote includes, and the code items people miss.
Recurring services
Cleaning, lawn care and pest control contracts.
- Hiring house cleaning
Companies versus independent cleaners, insurance, and what to agree on up front.
- Lawn care and landscaping services
Seasonal contracts, chemical treatments, and keeping recurring costs in check.
- Hiring pest control
One-time treatments versus contracts, termite bonds, and what to compare.
General information, not legal advice. Licensing, permit and contract rules vary by state and city. See our disclosures.