10 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a General Contractor in Naperville, IL

Most homeowners don't know they hired the wrong contractor until it's too late — the work has started, there's a lien on the house, or the tile is laid wrong and the contractor's number goes to voicemail. Here are the questions that sort out serious contractors from the ones you don't want in your home.

1. Can I See Your License and Certificate of Insurance?

This should be the first question, and it should happen before any other conversation. In Illinois, general contractors performing residential remodeling must be registered with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) or licensed by their municipality. Separate trades — plumbing, electrical, HVAC — have their own license requirements.

Insurance means two things: general liability (covers damage to your property during work) and workers' compensation (covers the crew if someone is injured on your job site). If a worker is hurt on your property and the contractor has no workers' comp, you may be liable. Ask for a certificate of insurance naming you as an additional insured — a legitimate contractor can provide this within a day.

2. Will You Pull All Required Permits?

If a contractor says you don't need permits for work that clearly requires them — kitchen electrical, bathroom plumbing, structural changes, basement finishing — either they're wrong or they're deliberately avoiding the inspection process. Neither is acceptable. Unpermitted work affects your insurance coverage, your ability to sell the home, and potentially your safety. Read our full guide to DuPage and Will County permit requirements.

3. Who Does the Actual Work — You or Subcontractors?

Most general contractors use subcontractors for specialty trades — plumbing, electrical, HVAC, sometimes tile. That's normal and fine. What you need to know is: who are the subs, are they licensed in their trade, and does the GC carry them under their workers' comp policy or are they independent?

An unlicensed electrician working as a sub on your kitchen remodel creates the same liability as if your GC didn't have workers' comp. Ask specifically about plumbing and electrical subs — those are the two trades where licensing verification matters most.

4. What's the Project Timeline, and What Could Delay It?

A contractor who gives you a firm completion date before materials are ordered doesn't know what they're promising. Cabinet lead times run 6–12 weeks. Tile from specialty suppliers runs 2–4 weeks. Frameless glass is 10–14 days after measurement. A realistic timeline account for these lead times before demo starts — not after.

Ask specifically: "When will materials be ordered?" If the answer is "after we start," that contractor is building delay into your project from day one.

5. What's the Payment Schedule?

Industry standard for residential remodeling: a deposit (typically 10–30%) at contract signing to cover material orders, progress payments tied to project milestones, and a final payment at substantial completion. Never pay more than 50% before work begins. Never pay the full balance before the project is complete to your satisfaction.

A contractor who demands full payment upfront, or who asks for cash to avoid receipts, is telling you something important about how they run their business.

6. Can I See a Detailed Written Contract?

A handshake agreement and a one-page quote are not contracts. A legitimate remodeling contract specifies: the complete scope of work, materials to be used (brands, models, or comparable specifications), the payment schedule tied to milestones, the timeline, how change orders are handled, and warranty terms. If the contractor resists putting any of these in writing, that's your answer.

7. How Are Change Orders Handled?

Something will change during a remodel. Demo reveals unexpected conditions. You decide you want a different tile after seeing the floor layout. The material you specified is backordered. How a contractor handles these moments defines the relationship.

Every change to scope or cost should be documented in a written change order that both parties sign before the work happens. A contractor who makes changes without documentation — in either direction, additions or subtractions — is one you'll have a dispute with at the end of the job.

8. Can You Provide References From Similar Projects in This Area?

References should be recent (within the past 18 months), from projects of similar scope to yours, and from homeowners willing to speak candidly. The best reference check isn't a phone call — it's asking if you can see the completed project in person. A contractor confident in their work will offer this. Photos on a website are easy to curate. A real homeowner standing in a real room is harder to fake.

Also worth checking: Google reviews, the Better Business Bureau, and whether the contractor has any unresolved complaints with the Illinois Attorney General's office.

9. What Warranty Do You Offer on Labor?

Material warranties come from manufacturers, not contractors. Labor warranty — the contractor's guarantee that their workmanship was done correctly — varies. One year on labor is the industry minimum. Some contractors offer longer. Ask specifically: what does the warranty cover, what's the process for getting a warranty issue addressed, and how responsive have you been to past warranty calls?

10. Who Is My Point of Contact During the Project?

On larger projects, you may never speak to the owner of the contracting company after contracts are signed. Know in advance: who is the project manager on your job, how do you reach them, and what's the expected response time to questions or concerns during the build?

At SilverBullet, the answer is the same for every project: you have a direct line to the project lead, and questions get answered the same day. That's not a policy we invented — it's what we'd want if we were the homeowner.

Residential · Naperville

Foxtrail — Luxury Kitchen Remodel, Naperville

One of the questions clients asked before hiring us: can we see a completed project? The answer was yes — and it still is. Every project we finish is one we're willing to show.

Red Flags That End the Conversation

A few things that should stop the hiring process immediately, regardless of price or timeline:

• No verifiable license or proof of insurance
• Demands full payment upfront or insists on cash
• Unsolicited door-to-door approach immediately after a storm (storm chaser contractors)
• Can't provide references from projects in the past 12 months
• Quote is dramatically lower than all other bids — something is missing from their scope
• Pressure to sign immediately, today, before the price goes up
• Vague or verbal contract — no written scope of work

None of these are situations where you ask more questions. They're situations where you thank the contractor for their time and call someone else.

If you're in Naperville, Geneva, Plainfield, or anywhere in the western suburbs and looking for a contractor for a kitchen, bath, basement, or commercial project — we'd welcome the opportunity to earn your trust. Ask us all ten of these questions. We have answers for every one of them.

Frequently Asked Questions