Most Plano homeowners interview contractors with their gut, not a list. That works until it does not. Here is the list.

§ Bucket 01Pre-meeting: four questions before you even meet.

These belong in your first phone call or email reply. A contractor who avoids any of them is filtering themselves out for you.

1. “Can you send me a current certificate of insurance before our meeting?” A real contractor has this ready and will email it within 24 hours. A vague answer or “we’ll bring it” is a flag.
2. “Are you registered with the City of Plano for permit pulls?” Required for any work needing a permit. Ask for the registration number. Then verify it on the City of Plano Building Inspections page.
3. “What’s your BBB rating and your Google review count?” A 30-second answer. They should know both numbers cold.
4. “Have you built in [your specific Plano neighborhood] before?” This is the question most homeowners forget. Plano’s slab foundations, HOA submissions, and city permit timelines vary by neighborhood.

§ Bucket 02During the meeting: eight questions that expose how they really operate.

This is where contractors who look good on paper either prove themselves or expose themselves. Walk through these in order. Take notes on the answers.

1. “Walk me through your design phase. What’s included and what’s separate?” A real contractor with an in-house designer will describe 3D renderings, finish selection at their showroom, and a locked-in scope before contract.
2. “How do you handle permits? Who pulls them?” The right answer: “We pull every permit in our own name as the registered Plano contractor.”
3. “Who is on site every day?” A dedicated project lead with their cell number, not a rotating crew.
4. “What’s your payment schedule? How much upfront?” 10-15% deposit, then milestones tied to city inspections. Anything over 15% is a red flag.
5. “How do you handle change orders?” Documented in writing, signed by you, before any work begins.
6. “What’s your workmanship warranty?” 1-year industry minimum, UHS gives 3 years.
7. “What’s your slab-foundation policy? What if you find a crack mid-build?” Map elevation, epoxy-seal cosmetic cracks, pause and bring in structural engineer for dropped beams.
8. “Can I see a project you finished in the last 6 months?” Most reputable contractors offer a drive-by within 30 minutes of Plano.

The question that surprises me most is when a homeowner asks “have you built in my exact neighborhood?” Permit timelines and HOA submission requirements in Legacy West aren’t the same as Willow Bend. A contractor who has finished projects on YOUR street has institutional knowledge that saves you 2-3 weeks of schedule. — May N. · Co-Founder, Design Lead · 11 yrs · 5,875 projects

§ Bucket 03After the meeting: three reference-call questions.

Get at least three references from completed projects, ideally in your specific Plano neighborhood. Call all three. Ask:

1. “Did the project finish on the date your contractor originally quoted? If not, why?” Honest references tell you about delays. Listen for whose fault.
2. “Did the final cost match the contract? Any unexpected change orders?” “Yes, it matched” is rare and golden.
3. “Would you hire them again for a bigger project? Why or why not?” The cleanest filter question. Listen for hesitation.

Kitchen island, soapstone counter · PlanoPlate 04 / UHS Studio

§ Watch listSix answers that should make you walk away.

Even one of these is enough. Walk.