New Hampshire does not license general contractors at the state level. That puts more of the vetting on you than it would in many states — but the checks are straightforward, and the good firms welcome all of them.

What to verify before you sign anything

• General liability insurance — ask for a certificate naming you, and call the agent listed to confirm it's active. $1M is typical.
• Workers' comp — required in NH for anyone with employees. If a crew is on your property without it and someone is hurt, that can land on your homeowner's policy.
• Trade licenses — NH does license electricians and plumbers. Any electrical or plumbing work must be pulled and done under a licensed trade, whether it's the contractor's staff or a sub.
• A real business — registered with the NH Secretary of State, a physical address, a few years of history. RK Parisi Enterprises (our parent) has been at 104 Emerald St in Keene since 2012.
• References from the last year — and at least one project similar to yours. Ask those owners: did the price hold, did the schedule hold, how were problems handled.

Questions that tell you the most

• "Who is on site every day, and who's my point of contact?"
• "How do you handle change orders and surprises behind the walls?" — you want a written process, not "we'll figure it out."
• "What's the payment schedule?" A large deposit followed by draws tied to milestones is normal; a demand for half up front is not.
• "Do you pull the permits?" The answer should be yes. A contractor asking you to pull an owner permit to save themselves the paperwork is a red flag.
• "Can I see the contract before I decide?" It should name the scope, the allowances, the schedule, the payment terms and the warranty.

Red flags to walk from

Cash-only or "no permit needed, trust me." A bid dramatically lower than the others (someone's about to cut a corner or disappear). Pressure to decide today. No written contract. Vague allowances with no dollar figures. Reluctance to show insurance. A pattern of blaming past clients in reviews.

Why design-build changes the vetting

With separate designer and contractor, you're vetting two firms and refereeing between them when the plan and the price don't match. With design-build it's one contract, one insurance certificate, one point of accountability from the first sketch to the final walk-through. See design-build vs. hiring separately for how the risk shifts.