Most homeowners we meet have already been burned by a contractor. Not always in a dramatic way — more often it's a schedule that slipped by four weeks, a change order that appeared without explanation, or a finish that didn't match what was pointed to in the showroom.
The five questions we wish you'd ask us on the first call: Who will be on-site every day? What is the process when we hit an unforeseen condition? What is the workmanship warranty in writing? Can I speak with a client whose project was similar to mine and finished more than a year ago? How do you handle payment milestones?
The answers matter less than the fact that they're specific. If a contractor can't answer those five in plain English, that's your signal.