Hiring a Spanish-Speaking Contractor in Chicago: What to Ask

If you want a Spanish-speaking contractor in Chicago, you are asking for something reasonable. Understanding the scope, the price and the paperwork in the language you think in is part of doing the job right. Just do not let "habla español" replace the checks you would run on anyone. Here is what to ask, so the language helps you instead of rushing you.

Speaking Spanish is not a license

Start here, because it is where owners get hurt. A contractor who speaks your language and a contractor who is licensed are two separate facts. Check both.

Chicago requires a general contractor license for most building construction, alteration, repair and demolition work, including work that is exempt from a building permit (City of Chicago). Masons, plumbers and electricians have their own City licenses (City of Chicago), and roofers are licensed by the state (Illinois law). You can verify City contractor licenses in the Department of Buildings' lookup, and architects, engineers and roofers through IDFPR (City of Chicago).

Our guide to checking a Chicago contractor's license walks through it step by step. Do it before the estimate, whoever you are hiring and whatever language they speak.

What "we speak Spanish" should mean

Ask for specifics. The phrase can mean very different things:

• Only the person answering the phone speaks Spanish, and the estimator and crew do not.
• The estimator speaks Spanish, but the paperwork and the City notices are in English only.
• The whole chain does: the person who walks the building, the person who writes the scope, the crew lead on site, and the person who answers your calls.

The third is what you want on a job that lasts weeks. Ask directly: "Who will I talk to every day, and do they speak Spanish?" If the answer depends on who is free that day, you have learned something.

Questions to ask on the first call

1. Who comes to look at the building, and do they speak Spanish?
2. Who is my contact once work starts, and can I reach them directly?
3. Will the estimate and contract be available in Spanish, in English, or both?
4. Who writes the scope of work, and will I get it before I sign?
5. Who handles the City paperwork, and will they explain notices to me in Spanish?
6. What is the exact business name on the license, and can I look it up myself?
7. Can I see a certificate of insurance?
8. Who is on the crew, and are they your employees or subcontractors?

Question 8 is not about language. It is about who will actually be on your roof or your porch. Our list of questions to ask a Chicago contractor before you sign goes further.

The contract: read it in a language you read

The written contract is where language matters most. Illinois law requires a written contract or work order for home repair work over $1,000 on a residence of one to six units. It must state the total cost, parts and materials, and the business name and address (815 ILCS 513/15). Before you sign, the contractor must also give you the "Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights" pamphlet (815 ILCS 513/20).

Practical rules for any contract, in any language:

• Do not sign what you cannot read. If the paper is in English only and you read Spanish better, ask for help before you sign, not after.
• If there are two versions, ask which one governs. Have an attorney confirm that both versions say the same thing, especially the scope, the price and the payment schedule.
• A verbal promise is only as good as the page. If the person who explained the job in Spanish promised something, find it in the contract.

We cover what the contract must say in what your Illinois home repair contract must say.

City notices and permit paperwork are usually in English

Building notices, permit forms and hearing paperwork from the City are in English. If you own a building and a notice arrives, you need someone who can read it with you and explain what it requires. Ask the contractor up front whether they will do that. A contractor who handles permits and violation paperwork in-house, and explains it to you in Spanish, saves you the worst kind of translation problem: the one that happens when a deadline is close.

How to compare, once the language fit is good

Language fit narrows your list. It should not end your comparison. Once you have two or three contractors you can talk to comfortably, compare them on the same things you would compare anyone on: license, insurance, a written scope, a payment schedule you understand, who pulls the permit, and how they answer hard questions. See contractor red flags in Chicago for the warning signs, and our full hiring guide for the whole process.

Where Akats fits

Akats Construction is a family-operated, minority-owned Chicago contractor, licensed and insured in Illinois, with a BBB A+ rating. We work in English and Spanish, and we have 11 trades in-house: masonry, concrete, roofing, porch, demolition, excavation, tuckpointing, expediting, violations, design-build and architectural services. That means the person who explains the repair is part of the team that handles the work and the City paperwork.

We would rather you check us the way this guide says to check anyone. Call 312-339-9627 or 312-497-5751, or use our contact page. Hablamos español.

Common questions

This article explains general rules and common situations in Chicago. It is not legal advice, and City rules change. For a specific property, check with the Chicago Department of Buildings or a licensed professional.