What questions should I ask a contractor before hiring them for a renovation in NB?

The questions you ask a contractor before signing a contract reveal far more about their professionalism than their marketing materials ever will — and in New Brunswick, where renovation contractors range from highly skilled professionals to unlicensed operators, this screening process is not optional.

Start with the fundamental credibility questions. Ask for their WorkSafeNB account number and request a clearance letter from WorkSafeNB — this is a simple, free document the contractor can pull from the WorkSafeNB website confirming their coverage is current. Ask for their general liability insurance certificate and request that their insurer email it to you directly; this confirms the policy is real and you're named as an interested party. Ask whether the work requires TSANB-licensed tradespeople for electrical, plumbing, or gas components, and whether those licensed trades are on their crew or trusted subcontractors — and ask to verify those licenses. These three things are non-negotiable for any legitimate NB renovation contractor.

Next, ask about experience with your specific project type. A contractor who does beautiful basement finishing may have never managed a home addition, and those are completely different skill sets. Ask how many projects similar to yours they've completed in the last two years, and ask for references specifically from those similar projects. A contractor who hesitates to provide this information either lacks the experience or lacks the satisfied clients — neither is reassuring.

Ask who actually does the work. Will the owner or lead carpenter be on your job site daily, or will they hand it off to a crew you've never met? Will they use subcontractors? For which trades? Are those subcontractors their regular partners with whom they have an established working relationship, or are they whoever is available at the time? In NB's renovation market, subcontractor quality varies significantly, and the general contractor is responsible for the subcontractor's work quality and conduct on your property.

Ask about permits explicitly. Who pulls the permits — the contractor or the homeowner? The answer should always be the contractor, in their name, for any work that requires one. A contractor who suggests you pull the permit yourself, or who says permits aren't necessary for work that clearly requires them, is a serious red flag. Ask which permits are required for your specific project and confirm their answer aligns with what your municipal building department or RSC has already told you.

Ask about the payment schedule before it appears in the contract. A contractor who asks for more than 10-15% upfront is either poorly capitalized or running a pattern that should concern you. Payments should be tied to defined milestones — foundation complete, framing complete, rough-in inspected and passed, drywall complete, project substantially complete — not to calendar dates or the contractor's cash flow needs. Ask what happens if there's a dispute about whether a milestone has been reached; the answer reveals how they handle conflict.

Ask for their project timeline and what factors could change it. Honest contractors acknowledge that hidden conditions — knob-and-tube wiring discovered in the walls, moisture damage behind existing finishes, non-standard framing from decades of previous renovations — are genuinely common in NB's older housing stock and can affect schedule and budget. A contractor who guarantees a fixed timeline regardless of discovered conditions either hasn't renovated many NB homes or is planning to cut corners when things go sideways.

Finally, ask about their warranty. What defects do they warrant and for how long? Is their warranty in writing? How do they handle warranty callbacks — do they respond promptly, or do satisfied clients report chasing them for months? Asking a reference this specific question often yields the most revealing feedback you'll get about a contractor's character.

Ask every contractor the same set of questions so you can compare responses side by side. A contractor who answers all of these questions confidently, clearly, and without hesitation is demonstrating the professionalism and experience your renovation deserves. One who deflects, minimizes, or pressures you to skip due diligence is telling you everything you need to know.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The New Brunswick Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Thirty Four Renovations
• Gionetterenovations