Couldn’t agree more about the handshake deals—those always seem to end with someone “remembering” a detail that never existed. I once had a guy swear we’d discussed heated floors in the garage. (We hadn’t. Who needs a spa for their car?) The cash-only crowd is wild too... if it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably going to cost you double fixing their mistakes later. You nailed it with checking licenses—five minutes now saves months of headaches.
Yeah, handshake deals are a gamble. I always tell folks—get it in writing, even if it’s just an email recap. I’ve had people insist we agreed on “soundproof drywall everywhere.” Never happened. Also, if someone’s dodging permits, that’s a red flag for me.
I always tell folks—get it in writing, even if it’s just an email recap.
Couldn’t agree more. Learned that the hard way when my “quick backsplash job” turned into a debate about grout color I supposedly picked. Now I jot everything down, even if it’s just scribbles on a notepad. Permits too—if someone’s cagey about them, I just walk away. There’s always another contractor out there who’ll do it right.
Definitely relate to the “get it in writing” mantra. I’ve had subs swear we agreed on something that was never even discussed. Now, every change order gets a quick signature—even if it’s just a note on the back of a receipt. For me, I always ask for at least three references and actually call them, not just look at photos. Curious—anyone ever use project management apps with contractors, or is that overkill for smaller jobs?
I’ve tried using a couple of those project management apps—one time for a bathroom remodel that was supposed to be “simple.” Honestly, it felt like overkill for my little job. The contractor just wanted to text or scribble notes on a scrap of drywall. I get the appeal, but unless you’re running a big project with lots of moving parts, I think a shared Google doc or even just email threads work fine. I’m with you on calling references, though. Photos can hide a lot... like the time I found out a “finished” deck didn’t actually have stairs.
