• When can you start?
  
• When will you be finished?
  
• What time will you knock on my door each morning?
  
• What time will you quit for the day?
  
• Are you going to work everyday?
  
• Can you finish before (insert any major holiday or significant family event)?
  
• How much will it cost per square foot?
  

Unfortunately, these are not the type of questions that are going to tell you much about a particular contractor.

Below are some questions NARI members recommend you ask before signing a remodeling contract:
(Source: National Association of the Remodeling Industry)

• How long have you been in business?
  W.E. Bilbrey has been in business since 1982
• Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
  A lead carpenter along with a carpenter apprentice will be assigned to each project.
• Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors?
  W.E. Bilbrey has a full staff of qualified professionals and we use only highly-qualified sub-contractor for electrical, plumbing, and heating and air conditioning.
• Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance? (Always verify this information by calling the agency. A copy of an insurance certificate does not let you know if the policy is still current. Even if the certificate has an expiration date. You cannot tell if the insurance has been canceled by either party. If licensing is required in your state also ask if the contractor is licensed and call to verify compliance with the law. Not all states offer or require licensing. Check with your local or state government agencies.)
  We carry both Workers Comp and Liability Insurance, and we are registered with the City of Dayton. Please feel free to contact us for more information.
• What is your approach to a project such as this?
  We'll take the time to thoroughly listen to and understand your project goals, and then make recommendations that will provide solutions for your needs, while adding your own personality to the project. Our trained professionals will communicate what your final project will look like, and how it will function. After all, our mission is to satisfy our Customers well beyond their Expectations.
  
• How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?
  W.E. Bilbrey has completed hundreds of projects over the years. Please visit our Project Showcase for a few examples.
• May I have a list of reference from those projects?
  We have listed a few references on our web site. Please visit our Reference Page and click on the link for the project similar to yours.
• What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?
  Many of our customers have become our "Customers for Life" - they keep coming back again and again with new projects.
• Are you a member of a national trade association?
  W.E. Bilbrey is a member of NARI, National Association of the Remodeling Industry. We are also a member of the Better Business Bureau.
• Have you or your employees been certified in remodeling or had any special training or education?
  At W.E. Bilbrey, we always have a Certified Remodeler (CR.), Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler (CKBR), and Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC) on staff.

It is also important to realize that sometimes it is not the answers that you get that are significant, but what you do not get. Asking the right questions is not enough. You need to pay attention to your instincts and to what information is missing.

Unlike your accountant or stock broker, your Remodeler will be apart of your daily life and available for some on-the-job education. He or she will be privy to your personal life, more so than your doctor or lawyer. Your contractor will know how you look early in the morning and how well-behaved your dog is. It makes sense that you should take some time to carefully select this person and make sure that it is someone you can ask questions of.

Remodeling can and should be a fun and exciting experience. You get to create your dream room or home and learn a little about design and building along the way. All you need to do is ask questions. Questions that, according to NARI members, Remodeler do not feel they are getting enough of. So tap into your curiosity and ask away.