How to check a contractor before you hire one in DC, Maryland, or Virginia

Check the license where the work will happen

A contractor needs a license in the jurisdiction where your property is, not just where the company is based. Look the contractor up yourself on the official site rather than relying on a license number printed on a proposal.

• Washington, DC: contractors are licensed by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP). The DC Attorney General's office says home improvement businesses must be bonded and insured to be licensed, and that electricians, plumbers, and some other trades need their own licenses. Check business licenses in Scout and occupational licenses in the OPLA portal, or call DLCP at 202-671-4500.
• Maryland: home improvement contractors are licensed by the Maryland Home Improvement Commission (MHIC). MHIC advises asking to see the contractor's license, then confirming it is current with the MHIC license search or by calling 1-888-218-5925.
• Virginia: contractors are licensed by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR). Search by name or license number in the DPOR license lookup, which also has a search for disciplinary actions.

Get the contract in writing

In DC, the Attorney General's consumer alert says general and home improvement contractors need a written contract signed by both you and the contractor before they accept payment. The contract should include:

• The contractor's name, address, phone number, and DC license number
• Payment terms
• Approximate start and completion dates
• A description of the work and materials

The same guidance says a contractor should never ask you to sign a contract with blank spaces, that you have the right to review the completed contract before signing, and that you should get a copy. In Maryland, MHIC's consumer guidance says to make sure your material selections are spelled out in the signed contract and to have a private attorney review it if you do not understand it.

Be careful with deposits

• MHIC advises paying no more than one-third of the contract price up front, and never paying in cash.
• In DC, only licensed home improvement contractors may take payment before the work is finished, according to the Attorney General's office.
• Our suggestion: tie later payments to completed stages of work rather than to dates on a calendar.

Questions to ask every contractor

• Can you send a current certificate of insurance, issued to me by your insurer?
• Who will pull the permits, and will the permits be in your company's name?
• Who will be on site each day, and who is my point of contact?
• Which parts of the work will subcontractors do?
• How are change orders priced and approved?
• What warranty do you give, and what does it cover?
• Can I speak with two or three recent clients who had similar projects?

Warning signs

• Pressure to pay in cash or to pay most of the price up front
• Asking you, the owner, to pull the permit
• No written contract, or a contract with blank spaces
• A license number that doesn't match the company name or the jurisdiction
• A bid far below the others with no explanation of what is left out

If something goes wrong in DC, licensing and workmanship complaints go to DLCP, and deceptive or fraudulent practices can be reported to the Attorney General's Office of Consumer Protection (202-442-9828). In Maryland, contact MHIC.

Where Hawthorne Mason fits

We introduce contractors who represent that they are licensed, insured, and bonded for the work they perform, and we consider experience, references, and fit with your project before making an introduction. We still recommend running the checks above yourself before you sign. Licenses and insurance are held by each contractor, their status can change, and Hawthorne Mason does not guarantee any contractor's credentials, workmanship, or performance.

If you want help knowing what to ask for, or a second opinion on a proposal, start a project or read our FAQ.