Hiring a Contractor in India: The Questions No One Tells You to Ask

Choosing the right contractor is the single most consequential decision in a self-construction project. A good architect, good drawings, and a good budget can all be undone by a contractor who cuts corners, over-bills, or disappears mid-project.

Price and references are a starting point — but there are better questions to ask. Here are the ones most homeowners skip.

About Their Current & Past Work

• How many projects are you running simultaneously right now? (More than 3–4 for a small contractor means your project will compete for their attention.)
• Can I speak directly with owners of your last two completed projects — not just references you've chosen?
• Can I visit one of those completed projects in person?
• Have you ever been involved in a contract dispute? What happened?
• What was the last project where you went significantly over budget or schedule, and why?

About How They Work

• Who will be on site every day? Is it you or a supervisor? Can I meet that person now?
• How do you handle subcontracting — for electrical, plumbing, and steel work? Do you use the same subs consistently?
• How do you document stage completion? Will you provide cube test reports, photographs, and material invoices?
• What is your process when you discover something unexpected mid-build — like bad soil or a drawing discrepancy?

About the Contract

• Are you willing to sign a construction agreement that specifies the exact scope, material grades, and payment milestones?
• What is the penalty clause for delays on your side?
• What warranty do you provide on your workmanship? In writing?
• Will you provide a site-measured BOQ before we sign?

About Materials

• Which brand of cement do you recommend, and why? (A vague answer suggests they buy whatever is cheapest on the day.)
• What steel grade do you use — Fe-415 or Fe-500D? Can you provide the test certificate from the mill?
• Do you purchase materials directly or through a middleman? Can I verify invoices?

Red Flags to Walk Away From

• Refuses to sign a written contract ('we do everything by trust here')
• Cannot provide references from completed projects in the last 2 years
• Quotes significantly lower than two other contractors without a clear explanation
• Requests more than 20–25% upfront
• Does not know what grade of steel or cement they use
• Avoids the question of who will be on site daily

Good contractors welcome these questions. They know that clients who are this organised tend to also pay on time, make decisions promptly, and be easier to work with overall. A contractor who is evasive about any of the above is telling you something important.