Best questions to ask before hiring a construction company
Choosing the wrong contractor can cost you months and thousands of dollars. Before you sign anything, here's exactly what to ask — from a Los Angeles crew that's been coordinating engineering, demolition, grading and construction projects for 32+ years.
Why the right questions matter
Every construction project — whether it's a new build, an ADU, a fire-lot rebuild, or foundation work — depends on the contractor coordinating dozens of moving pieces: permits, engineering, grading, subcontractors and inspections. A few pointed questions upfront tell you whether a company can actually manage that coordination, or whether you'll be the one chasing answers halfway through the job.
Below are the questions we'd recommend asking any general contractor in Los Angeles — including us.
10 questions to ask before you hire
Are you licensed, bonded and insured — and can you show it?
Ask for the CSLB license number directly and look it up yourself on the CSLB website. Confirm the classifications match your project (general engineering, general contractor, concrete, masonry) and ask to see proof of bonding and liability insurance before work starts.
How long have you worked in this specific area of Los Angeles?
Local experience means the contractor already understands the permitting process for your city or county jurisdiction, common soil and grading conditions, and how to sequence work around local inspection timelines.
Who handles permits and plan check coordination?
Find out whether the company manages permit submittals and plan check coordination in-house or leaves it to you. Delays here are one of the most common reasons projects stall.
Can I get an itemized, written bid?
A vague lump-sum quote makes it impossible to compare bids fairly or catch scope gaps. Ask for a breakdown by phase — demolition, grading, concrete, foundation, construction — so you know exactly what's included.
What's the realistic timeline, phase by phase?
A trustworthy contractor will walk you through planning and permits, demolition, grading, concrete and foundations, and construction as separate phases with rough durations — not a single vague completion date.
Do you use your own crews or subcontractors?
Ask who's actually on site day to day, and how the company manages subcontractors for specialty work like hazardous debris removal or masonry. Accountability gets murky when nobody knows who's supervising.
How do you handle site conditions you didn't expect?
Contaminated soil, unexpected utilities, or fire debris often surface once work begins. Ask how change orders are communicated and priced before you're in the middle of one.
Can I see recent local projects and talk to references?
Ask for two or three recent jobs similar in scope to yours — ideally in the same neighborhood — and actual contact information for those clients, not just a portfolio page.
How will we communicate during the project?
Ask who your main point of contact is, how often you'll get updates, and how fast they typically respond to a call or text. Projects move smoother when this is set upfront.
What happens after the work is done?
Ask about warranty coverage on concrete, foundation and construction work, and what the process looks like if an issue shows up after final inspection.
Quick pre-hire checklist
Before you sign a contract, confirm:
- License number verified on the CSLB website
- Bonding and liability insurance documentation in hand
- Written, itemized bid with a phase-by-phase timeline
- Clear point of contact and communication plan
- References from similar, recent local projects
- Written policy on change orders and unexpected site conditions
Why Los Angeles property owners choose Suncore
We built Suncore around the questions above — because we'd want a straight answer to every one of them if it were our property.
Suncore is locally owned and operated, licensed for engineering and earthworks, general contracting, concrete, masonry, septic and hazardous substance work. We coordinate planning, permits, demolition, grading, concrete, foundations and construction as one connected process — so you're not managing five separate vendors yourself.
Have a project you're planning?
Call or text your scope to our team for a free estimate or site evaluation — most bids go out within 24 hours.
Call or text 424-346-4637