The Top 10 Questions You Should Ask Your Contractor Before Starting Any Project

Read This…Because designing your dream home should never feel like guesswork.

At Samari Design Studio, we believe that beautiful spaces are built on clarity, communication, and trust. Over the past 90 days, we’ve been in the field—side by side with contractors, clients, and trades—navigating everything from framing surprises to product delays.

Those experiences brought one truth into focus:

When homeowners and contractors don’t start with clear expectations, even the most beautiful designs can unravel.

Before you sign that contract or demo that first wall, here are the Top 10 Questions You Should Be Asking Your Contractor—starting with #10 and counting down to the #1 question that could save your project.

10. What is your policy for site cleanliness, safety, and daily end-of-day procedures?

Small details matter. A clean job site doesn’t just look good—it’s safer, more efficient, and shows respect for your home.

9. Will you coordinate directly with the designer when needed, or will all communication go through the homeowner?

The smoother the communication triangle between homeowner, contractor, and designer—the fewer the headaches.

Over the years, I’ve learned that everyone has a different communication style. But the worst is when there is no agreement ahead of time on procedure in how questions, concerns and progress will be distributed to keep the team informed. Simply said, your designer can’t help you problem solve if they are unaware of a change on site, a wrong product delivery or field question. Whether it’s a group email, project management software of a simple spreadsheet. Having something in place will save you the stress of not knowing how things are really going.

8. Do you require written approvals before ordering materials or scheduling trades?

Verbal approvals leave too much room for confusion. Insist on written sign-offs to protect everyone involved.

7. Will you walk through the space before drywall, tile, or finishes are installed?

This walk-through is your last chance to catch anything out of place—like a misplaced sconce or plumbing stub-out. This is a great time to review mock ups, layout potential designs and start to visualize what goes where.

ALWAYS HAVE A WALK THROUGH

Installation specifications may say one thing, but there are multiple ways to frame to the end result.

After seeing this in the field we were able to pivot and determine exactly how to finish tiling this wall face along with the top edge. Had we waited until after tilling, it would have been much more challenging to reverse engineer the process. With the end result months away we have a plan in place to intentionally finish these details.

6. Who is responsible for returns or replacements if materials arrive damaged?

Whether it's a chipped vanity or the wrong finish on your hardware, clarify who manages returns and reordering so your project isn’t stalled.

5. Can you provide a project timeline—and how will you keep us informed along the way?

A timeline with key phases helps everyone stay aligned. Equally important: How will updates be shared? Will you receive weekly emails or have regular calls? Proactive communication can prevent costly missteps and ease project anxiety.

4. What’s your process when unexpected questions or issues come up on-site?

Surprises happen. What matters most is how your contractor responds. Do they pause to call the homeowner or designer—or push forward and assume?

WHAT GROUT COLOR DO YOU WANT?

Grout is one of those things, when possible is best to finalize in the field after the tile has been installed. Lighting conditions, reflectivity, always have a way of shifting slightly and the color you may have chosen in the showroom may not have the same color value in your space.

I recently had to re-grout an entire bathroom when the contractors version of “white grout” was not the “white that complimented the tile.”

Remind your contractor that it’s ok to pause, and ask you or your designer for clarification at any time.

Making assumptions are never a great idea and it’s always better to take a little longer and do something right, then rush and have to do it again.

3. Will you provide shop drawings for all cabinetry or millwork based on field measurements?

Custom cabinetry and millwork should reflect real-world dimensions. Shop drawings allow everyone—homeowner, contractor, and designer—to review and approve before fabrication begins.

2. Will you review installation instructions and product specs before rough-in or framing begins?

Every product—from plumbing valves to lighting—has specific requirements. Confirm that your contractor reviews all specifications to prevent misalignment, rework, or missed details.

1. If something is installed incorrectly or gets damaged during construction, who covers the cost—and how is it resolved?

This is the question that will show you your contractor’s true colors. Because mistakes happen. What matters most is how they’re handled.

You would think that this one question would be spoken to at the beginning of a project and understood from Day 1. The truth is, that even if it is discussed on Day 1, by the time this potentially comes up on Day 784 and the warm glow of “starting something new” have slowly faded to the final push of completion (project fatigue) you’ve probably forgotten what the original agreement was.

It doesn’t matter if it’s a 4 million dollar new construction home or a 50K bathroom remodel. Asking this question, understanding the solution and process in writing ahead of time will save you and your designer unnecessary cortisol spikes and stress that can happen when you are stuck in the limbo of unknown problem resolution processes.

Because Accidents Happen..Understand the Path to Resolution…

On one of our recent remodels, a beautiful custom piece was damaged during install. The contractor immediately took responsibility, coordinated the replacement, and absorbed the cost. That one action built more trust than a dozen perfect installs.

Build with Clarity and Confidence

Whether you're updating a single space or building from the ground up, thoughtful communication is one of the most powerful tools you have. These 10 questions are designed to help you set expectations, foster collaboration, and reduce the kinds of surprises that can derail even the best-planned projects.

At Samari Design Studio, we believe that beautiful results come from aligned teams, clear intentions, and mutual respect. Our hope is that this guide becomes a trusted resource—one that supports not just the finished product, but the process itself.

Download Our Pre-Construction Contractor Checklist

We’ve distilled these 10 questions into a simple, printable checklist share it with your contractor, and start your project on the right foot.

Buy The Homeowner Peace of Mind Kit

Let’s be real, renovation can feel overwhelming.

You want to feel prepared, protected, and proactive, not lost in construction jargon.

This kit walks you through what to ask, what to expect, and how to hold your team accountable, while avoiding confrontation or confusion.

Ready to Go Deeper?

We offer:

• In-Home Design Intensives for remodel planning

• 60-Minute Clarity Calls to review timelines, drawings, or contractor quotes

• Full-Service Interior Design for clients who want end-to-end design support