Contractor vetting checklist
Hiring the right bathroom remodeler matters as much as the tile you pick. This free checklist helps you compare licensed, insured, and bonded pros, ask better questions, and avoid the expensive mistakes that lead to leaks, delays, and change-order fights.
What this free checklist is
Our free downloadable checklist is a simple tool you can use when you talk to bathroom remodelers. It helps you stay organized while you compare experience, paperwork, scope, schedule, and how each company handles waterproofing behind the tile.
TileQuarter is a free matching service. We do not remodel bathrooms or tell you who to hire. We help you get connected with licensed and insured bathroom remodelers, and you compare them, you choose, and you control final payment. If you want to start talking to pros, you can get matched.
The checklist is especially useful if this is your first remodel, if English is not your first language, or if you want a clear list of what to verify before you sign anything.
What to look for before you hire anyone
A clean estimate is not enough. Before you hire a remodeler, verify the basics yourself:
- License, insurance, and bond: Ask for the license number and proof of insurance. Then verify it yourself with your state or local authority.
- Bathroom-specific experience: Ask how often they handle shower pans, tub-to-shower conversions, tile, ventilation, and bathroom waterproofing.
- Written scope: Get the exact work in writing before any deposit. That should include demolition, prep, waterproofing method, tile areas, fixtures, cleanup, and who handles permit coordination if required.
- Waterproofing details: Do not accept vague language like "we seal it well." Ask what system they use behind the tile and where it will be installed. Skipped waterproofing is where homeowners get burned. Read our waterproofing guide.
- Permit awareness: Bathroom projects may require permits depending on the work. Follow local permits and building code. Here is a simple permit guide.
- Payment terms: Never rely on a handshake. Get price and scope in writing before any deposit, and do not release final payment until the work is complete and punch-list items are handled.
If you need more help comparing companies, see our contractor vetting guide.
How to use the checklist step by step
- Talk to at least 3 remodelers. The goal is not to find the cheapest number. The goal is to compare scope, materials, timeline, and professionalism.
- Use the same project description for each company. Same bathroom. Same goals. Same tile ideas. Same fixture list if you have one. That gives you a more apples-to-apples comparison.
- Write down what is included and excluded. Demo, subfloor repair, wall repair, waterproofing, niche, glass, trim, disposal, permit fees, and finish materials can change the total fast.
- Ask what could raise the price later. Real remodel cost depends on the bathroom size, the scope of work, the tile and fixtures, hidden moisture or framing damage, and your area.
- Compare typical ranges, not promises. As a rough guide, a minor refresh often runs $3,000-$10,000, a mid-range remodel often runs $10,000-$25,000, and a full gut can run $25,000-$50,000+. A tub-to-shower conversion is often around $4,000-$12,000. Porcelain floor tile installed is often around $8-$25 per sq. ft. These are typical ranges and estimates, not bids or guarantees. For more context, visit costs.
- Keep your own notes. The checklist works best when you write down dates, names, promised documents, and follow-up questions.
That paper trail matters if details start changing later.
Download and use it on calls, site visits, and quote reviews
Download bathroom-contractor-vetting-checklist.pdf and keep it open on your phone or print it for meetings at home. Use it in three places:
- On the first call: screen for license, insurance, availability, and bathroom experience.
- During the site visit: ask about waterproofing, substrate prep, ventilation, tile layout, and what hidden damage could change the scope.
- When reviewing estimates: check whether each line item says enough. If one proposal is much lower, find out what is missing before you sign.
This checklist is not legal, construction, plumbing, electrical, structural, or financial advice. It is a homeowner tool to help you ask clearer questions and compare remodelers more confidently.
Need help finding companies to interview? TileQuarter can match you with licensed and insured remodelers at no cost to you. Participating remodelers pay a flat fee to be included. Homeowners can get matched for free.
Download the free checklist, talk to at least three licensed, insured, bonded bathroom remodelers, verify their paperwork yourself, and get the full scope and waterproofing details in writing before you pay a deposit.