1. Check the license
NYC's Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) licenses Home Improvement Contractors. Ask for the license number and look it up on the DCWP website. The license should be active and in the business name on your contract.
Some trades are licensed separately by the Department of Buildings. Plumbing must be done by a DOB-licensed master plumber and electrical work by a DOB-licensed electrician. Ask your general contractor who their plumber and electrician are, and look those licenses up too.
2. Verify insurance from the source
- Ask for a certificate of insurance (COI) showing general liability and workers' compensation.
- Have it sent directly from the contractor's insurance agent, and ask to be named as certificate holder or additional insured.
- If you live in a condo or co-op, your building will set its own requirements. See our COI guide.
3. Get it in writing
New York State law requires home improvement contracts above a modest threshold to be in writing, with specific terms. A good contract includes:
- The contractor's legal name, address, phone and license number
- A detailed scope: materials, brands and what's excluded
- Start and approximate completion dates
- A payment schedule tied to completed milestones, not dates
- How changes are priced and approved (in writing, before the work)
- Who pulls permits, if any are needed
- Your cancellation rights
4. Be careful with deposits
A reasonable deposit to order materials is normal. Paying most of the job up front is not. New York law also has rules about how a contractor must protect payments received before the work is complete, and your contract should tell you how yours are held.
5. Read the reviews, and look for specifics
Look for reviews that describe a real project: what was done, how communication went, whether it finished on time. Reviews from other trades (electricians and plumbers who've worked alongside the contractor) are a strong signal.
6. Ask how they handle surprises
Older Staten Island and Brooklyn homes hide things behind walls. A good contractor explains up front how hidden conditions are documented, priced and approved, before they become a fight.
Red flags
- No license number, or a license in a different name
- Cash only, or a large deposit before any work
- "We don't need a permit for that" on structural, plumbing or electrical work
- Pressure to sign the same day
- No physical walkthrough before a price
Ask us anything on this list
We'll walk your project, give you a written quote, and answer every question above. Call (347) 265-1229.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. City rules change, so confirm requirements for your property with the relevant agency (NYC DOB, DCWP, LPC or your building's management) before work starts.