Contractor Hiring Checklist for Chicago Owners (Printable)

Before you call anyone

• I wrote down the problem in one sentence and took dated photos of it.
• I know which trade the job is: masonry, roofing, concrete, porch, or a mix.
• I have a notice or violation paperwork in hand, if there is one, and I know the deadline on it.
• I plan to get at least three estimates and to compare them line by line.

Is this contractor allowed to do this work?

• I have the exact business name, not just the name of the person who came out.
• I looked that name up on the City's contractor license lookup, which covers general contractor, mason, plumbing and electrical licenses (City of Chicago).
• The license type matches the job. A general contractor license is required for most building construction, alteration and repair, including work that does not need a permit (City of Chicago). Brick, concrete and stone work falls under the mason license (City of Chicago).
• For any roofing, I checked the roofing license with the state agency, IDFPR. Roofing without that license is unlawful (Illinois law).
• The license is current, not expired.
• I have a certificate of insurance in hand. Illinois law requires home repair businesses to carry public liability and property damage coverage, with the minimums spelled out in the statute unless the business has a net worth of at least $1,000,000 (815 ILCS 513/25).

Does the estimate tell me the whole story?

• It is written, with the business name and address on it.
• It separates materials from labor and lists the materials.
• It names what is included and what is not, such as debris removal, scaffolding and cleanup.
• It says who pulls the permit and who pays for it.
• Every contractor priced the same scope, so the numbers can be compared.

Does the contract protect me?

For home repair over $1,000 on a residence of one to six units, the Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act applies (815 ILCS 513/10).

• I have a signed written contract or work order before work starts. It must state the total cost, with parts and materials listed with reasonable particularity, plus the business name and address (815 ILCS 513/15).
• I received the pamphlet "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" before signing, and signed the Consumer Rights Acknowledgment Form on jobs over $1,000 (815 ILCS 513/20).
• Start date, finish date and payment schedule are written down.
• Change orders are in writing before the extra work happens.
• Warranty terms are in the contract, not promised out loud.

Permits and paperwork

• I know whether this work needs a permit. Chicago requires a permit before most construction and repair work, with a limited exemption list (City of Chicago).
• The permit goes in the name of the licensed contractor. If I am asked to pull it myself as the owner, I understand the owner-as-contractor limits, which apply to a primary residence of three stories or fewer and six units or fewer (City of Chicago).
• The permit will be posted on site.
• I will keep copies of the permit, the inspection sign-offs and the final invoice.

Payment and trail

• The payment schedule follows the work done, in writing.
• I pay by check or a method that leaves a record, and I get a receipt.
• I do not pay the final amount until the work is finished and inspected where inspection is required.

What to do with what you find

Count the boxes you could not check. One or two on the paperwork side, like a missing warranty line, is something to fix before you sign. A missing license, missing insurance or no written contract is a stop sign, not a negotiation.

If a contractor will not give you something on this list, that tells you how the rest of the job will go. Our guides on checking a contractor's license, the questions to ask before you sign and the red flags that point to a bad hire go deeper on each section. The Home Repair and Remodeling Act also gives you a remedy: a person who suffers actual damage from a violation can sue under the Consumer Fraud Act (815 ILCS 513/30). That is a question for an attorney, not for this list.

Want a contractor who will hand you every item here without being asked? Akats is licensed and insured in Illinois and bilingual in English and Spanish. See our full hiring guide or contact us and we will walk through your scope.