Questions to ask a San Diego retrofit contractor before you hire

Free checklist. Print it or keep it open on your phone during calls. A good retrofit contractor will be glad you asked.

Questions

1. What is your CSLB license number, and is it in the business name on this quote?
2. Are you covered by workers’ compensation, or do you have no employees (CSLB shows which)?
3. Who pulls the permit, and is it in the price?
4. Who will actually be on site, your crew or a subcontractor?
5. What is the payment schedule? (California caps the down payment at 10% or $1,000, whichever is less, on most home improvement contracts.)
6. What warranty do you give on labor, and who backs the materials warranty?
7. Can I see 2–3 recent local jobs like mine?
8. Are you on the Earthquake Brace + Bolt contractor list?
9. Will the work follow FEMA P-1100 or a stamped engineer’s plan?
10. Will you help with the EBB paperwork and permit?

Check before you hire

• Check the license free on CSLB
• CSLB: home improvement contract rules (deposit, cancel rights)
• CSLB: Senior Scam Stopper

Write down the answers

Ask every provider the same questions, then compare side by side. If someone is vague on two or more, keep looking.

Next: red flags and what a fair quote includes · local prices

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