Every year, thousands of Las Vegas homeowners hire contractors who look solid on paper and turn out to be a nightmare on the job. Blown timelines. Surprise charges. Shoddy work. Disappearing acts after the deposit clears.
None of that is inevitable. Most bad contractor experiences trace back to one thing: the homeowner didn't ask the right questions before signing. This guide gives you the five questions that separate pros from problems — and what a good answer looks like for each one.
If you're still in the search phase, check out our guide to finding a reliable handyman in Las Vegas first. If you've already got quotes and you're ready to choose, keep reading.
1. Are You Licensed and Insured to Work in Nevada?
This is the non-negotiable first question. In Nevada, any contractor performing work valued at $1,000 or more (labor + materials) must hold a license from the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB).
What good answers look like:
- They give you their NSCB license number without hesitation — you can verify it at nvcontractorsboard.com
- They carry general liability insurance and can provide a certificate of insurance (COI) naming you as an additional insured
- If they have employees, they carry workers' compensation — without it, you could be liable if a worker is injured on your property
What bad answers look like: "I've been doing this for 20 years, never needed a license." That's not a credential. That's a liability.
Even for small jobs under $1,000 where a state license isn't required, ask for a Clark County business license. It's a basic operating requirement and costs them nothing to show you.
2. Can I See References from Similar Projects?
Reviews on Google are useful but easy to game. Real references — actual past clients you can call — are far more valuable. Ask specifically for references from projects similar to yours.
If you need a bathroom remodel, ask for references from bathroom remodel clients. If you need a roof repair, ask for roof repair clients. A contractor who specializes in decks isn't automatically qualified for plumbing.
When you call the reference, ask:
- "Did the project finish on time?"
- "Did the final cost match the original quote?"
- "Were there any issues, and how did the contractor handle them?"
- "Would you hire them again?"
A contractor who hesitates to provide references, or offers a single name who "just happens" to be a cousin, is telling you something. Confident professionals have satisfied clients they're proud to show off.
Also ask to see photos of completed work — before and after where possible. Any good contractor has documentation of their best jobs.
3. Will You Provide a Detailed Written Estimate?
Verbal quotes are worth exactly nothing. Before any money changes hands — before you sign anything — you need a written estimate that breaks down every cost.
A complete estimate includes:
- Itemized labor costs — hours estimated and rate per hour, or a flat-rate breakdown by task
- Material costs — specific materials, quantities, and unit costs (not a vague "materials" line)
- Scope of work — exactly what is and isn't included; "install new flooring" is not a scope, "install 400 sq ft of LVP flooring in kitchen and hallway, including removal and disposal of existing tile" is
- Payment schedule — standard in Nevada is a deposit (10–30%) upfront, progress payments tied to milestones, and final payment on completion. Anyone demanding full payment upfront is a red flag.
- Warranty terms — what's covered if something fails after the job is done
If a contractor says "I'll give you a ballpark now and we'll figure out the details later" — that's your cue to find someone else. The details always matter, and they always cost money.
4. What's the Timeline, and What Could Delay It?
Las Vegas contractors are busy, especially during the cooler months (October through March). "I'll start next week" is not a timeline. Get specifics in writing:
- Start date — the actual date they'll show up
- Estimated completion date — or milestones for longer projects
- Availability — are they running other jobs simultaneously? How many crews are they managing?
Then ask: "What are the most common reasons your projects run late, and how do you handle that?" A good contractor will give you an honest answer — permit delays, material backorders, weather windows for exterior work. A bad contractor will say "we never run late" or get defensive.
You want someone who's upfront about realistic risks, not someone who overpromises to close the deal. If a timeline slips, you want a contractor who communicates proactively, not one who ghosts you for two weeks.
For any project over $2,000, consider putting a timeline clause in the contract — even a basic one that specifies what happens (reduced payment, etc.) if completion is significantly delayed without cause.
5. How Do You Handle Change Orders?
Change orders are the single biggest source of contractor disputes in Las Vegas. A change order is anything that modifies the original scope — additional work discovered during the project, upgrades you decide on mid-job, or conditions that weren't visible at estimate time (like water damage behind a wall).
Ask directly: "How do you document and price change orders?"
The right answer: every change order is written, signed by both parties, and includes the new cost and any timeline impact before the additional work starts. You should never discover a change order on your final invoice.
The wrong answer: "We'll just add it to the bill at the end" or "we handle it case by case." That's how jobs that quote $5,000 turn into $9,000 invoices.
Also ask: "What happens if you find something unexpected once work starts — like mold or structural damage?" A professional contractor will stop, document it, get your approval, and provide a written change order. An unprofessional one will keep working and hand you a surprise bill.
One More Thing: Let the Pros Come to You
Getting answers to these five questions means calling multiple contractors, playing phone tag, waiting for callbacks, and comparing quotes across different formats. It's a lot of friction for what should be a straightforward process.
That's exactly why we built MyFixBid. Post your project once — describe the work, set your budget, and verified Las Vegas contractors submit competitive bids directly to you. Every contractor on the platform is screened, and you can compare bids, check reviews, and message pros all in one place.
Compare bids from verified Las Vegas tradesmen — post your job free on MyFixBid. No phone tag, no pressure, no surprises.