How to Hire a Contractor on Long Island: A Homeowner’s Checklist

Most contractor problems can be avoided with a few checks before you sign. Use this list for any project, from a new roof to a kitchen remodel.

Before you get quotes

1. Write down the job. A detailed list of what you want done makes quotes comparable and makes it easier to spot upselling.
2. Find licensed contractors. Nassau and Suffolk both require home improvement contractors to be licensed. Browse licensed contractors by trade or by town.
3. Get at least three written estimates. Ask each contractor for their proposed start and finish dates.

Before you choose

4. Verify the license with the county: see our guides for Suffolk and Nassau.
5. Ask for proof of insurance. Without it, you could be liable for injuries to workers or damage to your home.
6. Call references from recent jobs similar to yours, and ask neighbors who they used.
7. Check who handles permits. Most structural, roofing, plumbing and electrical work needs a permit from your town or village. See who issues permits on Long Island.

Before work starts

8. Sign a written contract that meets New York’s requirements. Use our contract checklist.
9. Ask where your deposit goes. It must be held in escrow or covered by a bond. Avoid large upfront payments.
10. Pay as work is finished, and keep the final payment until the job is complete and inspections have passed.

Red flags

• Door-to-door offers with “leftover materials” or pressure to sign today
• Cash-only deals, or a request for most of the money upfront
• No license number, or a license under a different name
• Suggesting you skip the permit