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Homeowner pre-hire audit — 12-question checklist before signing a contract

An interactive 12-question pre-hire checklist for Ohio homeowners. License, permits, evidence, insurance, written quote, references, payment schedule, warranty — work through it on your phone before agreeing to a contract, or print and bring to the contractor meeting.

12 questions~10 minutesPrint-friendlyUpdated 2026-05-23

How to use this

Two ways to run the audit. Pick whichever fits your workflow:

  • On your phone — tick the boxes as you verify each item; the score widget updates in real time and tells you whether you have done enough homework before signing.
  • Printed — use the "Print this checklist" button at the top of the interactive widget, fill the boxes by hand, and bring the printed copy to the contractor meeting. Every printed question still links to the tool that helps you answer it.

The checklist is deliberately neutral — it works for plumbing, HVAC, electrical, roofing, concrete, appliance repair, tree service, and gas work. Trade-specific buyer's guides live at /buyers-guide and add the trade-specific verification items (manufacturer certs, OCILB tier, EPA 608) on top of this baseline.

The 12-question audit

Tick the box only when you have completed the item — not when you intend to. The score below the checklist updates live and is the load-bearing summary.

Your score
0 / 12
Stop. Verify before signing.

Fewer than 8 of 12 items checked. The combined risk is too high — gaps in license verification, permit history, written documentation, or insurance proof have all triggered Ohio contractor complaints in recent years. Work the unchecked items before signing.

Ohio state-licenses plumbing, HVAC, electrical, and hydronics contractors via the OCILB. Status (active / expired / suspended / revoked) is published in real time on the eLicense Center.

Verify any Ohio license →

Permit volume is the closest the directory tier gets to direct operational evidence. County building departments publish permit ledgers; you can audit a contractor's permit history yourself.

Permit-pull leaderboard →

Every ProFix profile has a public evidence page that shows the per-factor breakdown behind the Trust Score — verify URL, permit count, review base, geocoded location, and published hours.

Sample evidence page →

For trades Ohio does not state-license (roofing, appliance repair, tree service), manufacturer certifications and federal credentials carry proportionally more trust weight.

Buyer's guide — Ohio roofer →

Ask for the certificate of insurance issued directly to you, not a screenshot or photocopy. The insurer should be willing to confirm policy currency by phone.

Trust Score factor: insurance →

Skipping a required permit is the single most common contractor red flag. A permit is the homeowner's only path to a documented code inspection and a permanent record of the work.

Ohio permit offices →

Verbal quotes evaporate. The written quote should itemize materials, labor, permit fees, and warranty terms — and name the brand / grade of the major materials.

Buyer's guide — Ohio plumber →

Three quotes is the floor, not the ceiling. The spread reveals scope misalignment as often as price differences — and a contractor who refuses to compete is telling you something.

Compare contractors →

BBB accreditation is paid; BBB complaint history is not. Read the complaints, not the badge — the pattern of resolution matters more than the accreditation tier.

How ProFix compares to BBB →

References from the same metro do harder work than vanity references. Same metro means same code regime, same supply chain, same labor pool — apples-to-apples.

Statewide coverage →

A reasonable deposit is 10-30% with a clear milestone schedule for the rest. Demands for 50%+ up front, cash-only terms, or full payment before completion are red flags.

Buyer's guide — Ohio HVAC tech →

Get the warranty in writing on the contract. Distinguish manufacturer warranty (covers the materials) from labor warranty (covers the installer's work). One year on labor is the floor for most Ohio trades.

Trust Score deep explainer →

Take to the contractor meeting

Print the checklist and bring it to the in-person walkthrough. The act of placing the printed sheet on the kitchen table changes the conversation — a contractor who has done this work before will recognize the questions and answer them directly. A contractor who pushes back on the checklist itself ("you don't need to verify all that") is telling you something about how they run jobs. Trust the signal.

  • Ask each unchecked question out loud and write down the answer in plain English.
  • Ask to see the insurance certificate, the license card, and the warranty in writing.
  • Note any item the contractor declines to answer — that is the diligence gap.
  • Walk out with at least three written quotes before committing.

What if a contractor refuses to provide some of this?

A contractor who refuses to share license number, insurance certificate, permit plans, or a written quote is showing you the future relationship. None of these requests are unusual; all of them protect both parties. Specific red-flag patterns:

  • "We don't pull permits for this size of job." Common dodge. Check the local permit office's requirement at /permits before accepting that framing. The homeowner is liable when a required permit is skipped.
  • "I'm licensed, you can trust me on that." If the contractor will not give you the license number, the license is the problem. Look it up at /verify against the Ohio eLicense Center.
  • "My insurance is good, no need to send the certificate." An active policy issues a certificate of insurance (COI) in minutes. The agency will fax or email one directly to the homeowner. Refusal is a red flag.
  • "50% deposit, the rest when we're done." A reasonable schedule is 10-30% deposit with milestone payments. Large up-front deposits are correlated with abandoned jobs in Ohio AG complaints.
  • "Cash only" or "checks made out to me personally." Both bypass the paper trail you need if anything goes wrong. Insist on payment to the business name on the license.

Maintained by ProFix Editorial Team. Questions, additions, or local Ohio nuance worth adding? Contact us.

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