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Hiring playbook

Every ProsNook guide filed under Hiring playbook. Practical, plain-English walkthroughs, ranked on what actually matters.

11 guidesBrowse all topics
A homeowner with a pen poised over a printed document at a kitchen table while a contractor in a work shirt and cap leans in over a second sheet of drawingsLatest in Hiring playbook
Hiring playbook

How to Handle a Contractor Change Order (7 Steps)

This playbook works a contractor change order end to end, from stopping the work and pricing the change before you sign to what it costs your contingency.

· 40 min readRead the guide →
A bathroom mid-renovation with one shower wall tiled in large pale tiles and the adjacent wall still bare cement board, a bucket and notched trowel on the floorHiring playbook

How to Hire a Bathroom Remodel Contractor (8 Steps)

This checklist shows how to hire a bathroom remodel contractor: which trade you actually need, license and insurance checks, comparing bids, and the warranty.

· 25 min read
Two professional roofers nailing asphalt shingles onto a residential pitched roof under a clear sky in warm afternoon lightHiring playbook

How to Hire a Roofing Contractor (7 Checks)

This checklist shows how to hire a roofing contractor: verify license and insurance, get multiple bids, spot storm-chaser red flags, and read the warranty.

· 30 min read
Two toolboxes sitting in an open front doorway with contractor work vans parked outside, the do-it-yourself and hire-it-out paths side by sideHiring playbook

DIY or Hire a Pro? How to Decide (7 Steps)

This walkthrough shows how to decide whether to DIY or hire a contractor, comparing true cost, skill, risk, permits, warranty, and resale step by step.

· 26 min read
A homeowner on their front porch reviewing a printed document during a dispute with a contractorHiring playbook

How to File a Complaint Against a Contractor

This walkthrough shows how to report a bad contractor step by step, from documenting the problem to a written demand, board complaints and small claims court.

· 27 min read
A homeowner checking a contractor's license number and certificate of insurance on a laptop and phone at a kitchen tableHiring playbook

How to Vet a Contractor (License & Insurance)

This walkthrough shows how to check a contractor license with the state board, confirm insurance and bonding, and read the complaint history before you sign.

· 28 min read
A contractor holding rolled plans directing a trade crew on a residential job site in warm daylightHiring playbook

How to Find a Good Contractor (7 Steps)

This walkthrough shows the best way to find a good contractor: sourcing channels, license checks, red flags, and trade notes for roofing through painting.

· 28 min read
A homeowner handing a rolled set of building plans and a paper application to a clerk at a municipal permit office service counter in neutral daylightHiring playbook

How to Get a Building Permit (7 Steps)

This playbook shows how to get a building permit step by step, from checking whether your project needs one to passing final inspection and closing it out.

· 26 min read
A homeowner in their doorway cautiously reviewing a printed contract handed over by a contractor on the front porchHiring playbook

How to Avoid Contractor Scams (8 Red Flags)

This playbook shows how to avoid contractor scams step by step, spotting the eight red flags in a bad bid before a deposit ever leaves your hands for good.

· 25 min read
A homeowner sitting at a kitchen table carefully reviewing a printed multi-page contractor estimate with a pen and a coffee mug beside himHiring playbook

How to Read a Contractor Estimate (7 Steps)

This walkthrough reads a contractor estimate in seven steps, from spotting a vague one-line bid to the allowances and unit prices where a low total balloons.

· 24 min read
A homeowner and a contractor shaking hands over rolled renovation plans at a bright residential job siteHiring playbook

How to Hire a Contractor (7-Step Guide)

This playbook walks you through hiring a contractor step by step, from scope to signed contract, avoiding the deposit traps that cost homeowners thousands.

· 24 min read