How to hire a remodeling contractor in New Hampshire

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.