Most homeowners who get burned by a kitchen contractor in Houston made the same few mistakes at the beginning of the process. They hired someone without verifying their license, accepted an estimate instead of a fixed-price contract, didn't ask about permits, or chose the lowest quote without asking why it was low.
Here's a practical checklist for vetting contractors before you sign anything.
Step 1: Verify the License
Every contractor doing plumbing, electrical, or structural work in Houston needs to be licensed in the State of Texas. Verifying this takes two minutes:
- Electrical: Check with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR) at tdlr.texas.gov
- Plumbing: Check with the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners at tsbpe.texas.gov
- General contractor: Texas does not license general contractors at the state level, but Houston requires a permit for most remodeling work, which provides a layer of oversight
Ask any contractor for their license numbers and verify them directly. If they hesitate or can't provide numbers, that's a significant red flag.
Step 2: Confirm They're Insured
Ask for a certificate of insurance showing:
- General liability insurance (minimum $1M per occurrence is reasonable for a residential remodeling contractor)
- Workers' compensation insurance
Have the certificate sent directly to you from their insurance broker — not emailed as a PDF by the contractor, since those can be altered. Call the broker to verify the policy is current.
If a contractor's employee is injured in your home and the contractor doesn't have workers' comp, you may be liable.
Step 3: Check Reviews Carefully
Look at Google and Houzz reviews. Read the negative ones carefully — the complaints that appear repeatedly (no-shows, scope creep, abandoned projects) tell you more than the 5-star reviews.
Look for reviews that specifically mention:
- Whether the project finished on time
- Whether the final price matched the quote
- Whether the contractor communicated during the project
Absence of mention of these things is itself informative. If 50 reviews rave about "beautiful tile work" but none mention timeline or price, that may tell you something.
Step 4: Ask Directly About Timeline and Price
Ask every contractor you're considering two specific questions:
- "Will you give me a fixed-price contract — not an estimate — before work begins?"
- "Will you give me a specific guaranteed completion date — not a range — in writing?"
Most Houston contractors will answer no to both, or hedge. That's normal and not disqualifying — but know what you're getting into. An estimate with no guaranteed timeline means your project can run long and cost more than quoted with no recourse.
A contractor who says yes to both — and backs it up with a contract that specifies a penalty if they miss the date — is rare and worth paying a premium for.
Step 5: Ask Who's Doing the Work
"We" can mean a lot of things. Ask:
- Is your crew in-house or subcontracted?
- Who specifically will be doing the tile work? (Tile is the highest-skill element of most bathroom and kitchen remodels)
- Will the same crew be on my project from start to finish, or will it vary?
In-house crews are generally faster and easier to schedule around your timeline. Subcontractors aren't inherently bad — most licensed tradespeople (plumbers, electricians) are subcontractors — but a project managed entirely through subcontractors has more scheduling risk.
Step 6: Ask About Permits
Ask directly: "Will you pull permits for this project?"
The correct answer for most kitchen remodels (plumbing, electrical, structural) is yes. Unpermitted work:
- Can be flagged at resale and require remediation
- Voids some homeowner insurance policies for work-related claims
- Has no city inspection record as proof of proper installation
A contractor who suggests skipping permits to "save money" is transferring risk to you.
Step 7: Compare Quotes Apples to Apples
If you get three quotes, make sure you're comparing the same scope. Common ways low quotes appear lower:
- Excluding permits (typically $400 – $1,000)
- Excluding appliance installation
- Excluding countertop fabrication ("we'll do the template and install but you handle countertops separately")
- Providing a base price with a separate "allowance" for materials — allowances are almost always lower than what you'll actually spend on real materials
Ask every contractor to give you a line-item breakdown. Then compare what's included, not just the bottom line.
Red Flags Worth Taking Seriously
- Asking for more than 30–40% upfront. Standard in remodeling is a deposit (10–30%), progress payments tied to milestones, and a final payment at project completion. Requesting 50–100% upfront is a significant risk.
- No written contract. Never start work on a handshake or a verbal quote.
- Can't provide license or insurance documentation. Non-negotiable.
- No permits pulled. Especially red if they suggest you pull the permit yourself as the homeowner.
- No photos of completed work. Legitimate contractors have a portfolio.
- High-pressure closing tactics. "This price is only good today." Walk away.
About Recast: Recast provides fixed-price proposals and guaranteed completion dates on every project — in writing, before work begins. If you're vetting contractors in Houston, request a free in-home estimate and compare our proposal against what you receive from others.