Before you hire someone for a home repair, ask about their license, their insurance, a written estimate and contract, the permit, the payment schedule, the timeline and the cleanup. The answers tell you whether the person is allowed to do the job, what you'll pay and when, and what happens if something goes wrong. Here are the 12 questions, and what to listen for in each answer.
In Virginia, a contractor license from DPOR (the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation) is needed for construction, repair or improvement jobs worth more than $1,000. Electrical, plumbing, HVAC and gas work needs a tradesman license at almost any size (Va. Code § 54.1-1100, § 54.1-1129, as of September 2026).
Ask for the license number and the exact name it's issued under, then look it up free on DPOR's License Lookup. Check that the expiration date hasn't passed, that the license class covers the price of your job, and that the specialties match the work.
For a step-by-step walk-through, see how to check a contractor's license in Virginia.
The person who gives you the estimate may not be the person who shows up. Ask whether the work will be done by them, by their employees or by a subcontractor. For electrical, plumbing or HVAC work, ask who holds the tradesman license: the work must be done by a licensed journeyman or master, or under one's supervision (§ 54.1-1128).
A license record doesn't show insurance, and Virginia's contractor regulations don't require insurance for a license (18VAC50-22, as of September 2026). So ask for a certificate of insurance. Check that it names the same business as your estimate and that its dates cover your job. If something looks off, call the insurance company listed on it.
If the business has a crew, ask about workers' compensation too. Virginia requires it once an employer regularly has more than two employees, part-time workers included (Virginia Workers' Compensation Commission, as of September 2026).
Ask for photos of similar jobs, or the name of a past customer you can call. Someone who mostly paints may not be the right person to set tile, even if they're willing to try.
A good estimate separates labor, materials, disposal and any permit fees, so you can compare one quote with another line by line. The price depends on the size of the job, the materials, how easy the work area is to reach, permits and how soon you need it done. If a number arrives with no description behind it, ask what it covers.
For residential work, a licensed Virginia contractor must give you a written contract, signed by both of you before work starts or any payment is taken (18VAC50-22-260, as of September 2026). It has to list the dates, the total cost, the payment schedule and the license details, among other things. Here's what a home improvement contract should include in Virginia.
Many repairs need a building permit from your county or city. Ask whether yours does, and who will apply for it. DPOR advises that the licensed contractor pull the permit, because the permit holder "becomes the general contractor and assumes responsibility for the overall job" (DPOR consumer booklet). Be wary if you're asked to pull it yourself.
DPOR's Board for Contractors recommends a down payment of about 10% of the total, or about 30% when the job needs custom-made items (DPOR consumer information sheet). Ask for later payments to follow finished stages of work, with the last one after a final walk-through.
Ask for a start date and an estimated finish date, and ask what could push them back: back-ordered materials, weather, other jobs. For contract work, both dates belong in the contract.
Walls and floors hide surprises. Ask what they'll do when they find one: will they stop, tell you, and give you a written price before doing the extra work? Virginia's contract rules require changes to a licensed contractor's contract to be written and signed.
Ask about drop cloths, dust barriers and floor protection, where tools and materials will sit overnight, and whether hauling away debris is in the price. "Clean" means different things to different people, so agree on how the room should look when they leave.
Ask whether they stand behind their work, for how long and what that covers, and how to reach them if a leak or a crack shows up later. Get the answer in writing, along with any manufacturer's warranty on the materials.
| If you hear | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| "No need for a contract on a job this size" | Licensed residential work needs one, signed before work or payment |
| "Pay the full amount up front, in cash" | Far above DPOR's suggested down payment, and hard to trace |
| "You pull the permit" | The permit holder takes on responsibility for the job |
| A license that has expired, or is under another name | The name, class and expiration date should all line up |
| "Insurance? Don't worry about it" | A certificate is the only way you'll see the coverage |
Take these questions with you, write down each answer, and compare them side by side. When you're ready, compare independent local Pros for handyman services or general home repairs.
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm license and contract rules with DPOR.
Last updated September 2026.
Partly. Some records on DPOR's License Lookup list complaints, open and closed, and a separate Disciplinary Action Search covers actions from April 1, 2002 on (as of September 2026). A clean record isn't proof of good work, so ask for photos of similar jobs as well.
Not for a job worth $1,000 or less with no electrical, plumbing, HVAC or gas work in it (Va. Code § 54.1-1100). Without a tradesman license, trade work is allowed only when it's worth less than $250, on a single-family home, by someone who doesn't present themselves as a tradesman (§ 54.1-1131). Both as of September 2026.
There's no rule. For a bigger job, more than one written estimate lets you compare what each one includes, not just the total. If one is far lower than the rest, ask what it leaves out.
Cash leaves no trail unless you get a receipt, so a check or card payment is easier to trace if there's a dispute later. Whatever you use, get a written receipt for every payment and keep it with the contract.