Finding reliable help for home renos - what do you look for?

References really do fill in the blanks that reviews miss - sometimes you hear about how someone handled a disaster or just went above and beyond.

Couldn’t agree more with this. I always ask about the worst thing that’s happened on a job and how they dealt with it. If someone gets defensive or blames the house, that’s a red flag for me. Have you ever noticed how some folks almost seem to enjoy the challenge when things go sideways? That’s usually a good sign. I’m curious - do you ever get nervous about hiring someone who seems too eager, though? Sometimes I wonder if enthusiasm can mask inexperience...

Sometimes I wonder if enthusiasm can mask inexperience...

That’s crossed my mind too. I had someone come in super pumped about my kitchen reno, but when I asked for specifics on past projects, the answers got vague. I try to balance their energy with actual examples of their work - photos, references, even just how they talk through a problem. Sometimes the most confident ones gloss over details, which makes me pause.

- I’m with you - enthusiasm’s great, but I’ve learned it doesn’t pay for drywall repairs.
- My checklist for reno help usually looks like this:
- Portfolio with before/after shots (bonus if they’re not just stock images from Pinterest)
- Actual references who’ll answer the phone and don’t sound like someone’s cousin
- Detailed breakdowns of how they’d handle curveballs (like “what if the subfloor’s rotted?”)
- I’ve had folks pitch me with a ton of energy, then blank on basic questions about permits or timelines. That’s usually my cue to keep looking.
- Sometimes I’ll ask them to walk me through a problem they solved on a past job. If the answer is just “we made it work,” that’s a red flag for me.
- Not saying enthusiasm’s bad - just needs to come with receipts.
- Learned the hard way once: hired a guy who was super jazzed about demo day, but couldn’t finish the job. Ended up with a kitchen that looked like a set from a disaster movie for weeks... Never again.

- I hear you on the “we made it work” answer - usually means they’re winging it. My list’s similar, but I also check if they’ve worked on older homes before. Some folks just aren’t ready for what’s behind 100-year-old plaster. If they start talking about “just tearing everything out,” that’s a red flag for me. I want someone who respects the quirks, not bulldozes through them. Learned that lesson after a guy tried to level my sloped floors with concrete... still dealing with that mess.

That concrete story hits close to home - literally. I had a guy insist the only way to “fix” my wavy old subfloor was to rip out everything and pour new. Ended up patching it myself with shims and patience, and it’s held up way better. My rule now: if they don’t ask about the house’s age or seem excited about old details, I move on. There’s a big difference between respecting character and just bulldozing quirks.