A bad contractor doesn't just cost more — it means months of stress, an abandoned worksite, and potential legal disputes. Learn how to separate professionals from opportunists before you sign anything.
Problem
The renovation market is full of tradespeople who look professional on Instagram but have no tax ID, no liability insurance, and no verifiable references. Most homeowners choose a contractor based on a friend's recommendation or the cheapest quote — and both methods regularly end in disaster.
The problem is that at the moment of hiring, you don't know what questions to ask. Without the right framework, you overpay, accept poor payment terms, and have no protection when things go wrong.
Solution
Before you search — prepare a scope and an independent estimate
A contractor who receives a precise project brief and scope of work prices honestly. A contractor who has to "guess" the scope builds in a safety margin — or lowballs the quote to win the job, then adds "unexpected" costs later.
Have an independent estimate before asking for quotes. It's the only way to know whether 85,000 PLN is a fair price for the work you're describing.
5 questions to ask every contractor
1. Tax ID and liability insurance — verify the company in the official business register (CEIDG or KRS), ask for the policy number, and call the insurer to confirm it's active. No insurance means you absorb all risk.
2. References you can actually call (not just photos) — ask for contact details of previous clients. If the contractor can't provide them, ask why. A good crew has a list of satisfied clients who are happy to confirm quality.
3. Who will physically do the work — the person who signs the contract is often not the one laying tiles. Ask who performs each task and what their experience is.
4. Payment schedule — red flag: more than 30% deposit before work starts, or demanding full payment before completion. Fair split: 20–30% upfront, the rest paid in stages after each completed and inspected phase.
5. What "cleaning up" means — scope often missed in verbal agreements. Who removes rubble, who cleans construction dust, who protects other rooms during work?
Red flags that should end the conversation
- Refusal to sign a written contract - Cash-only payment "to save on VAT" (no invoice = no legal protection) - Price changes after the first week without a revised scope - No way to verify previous projects - Aggressive pressure to decide quickly ("I have another job next week")
What a good contract contains
A solid contract includes: exact scope of work (with the project attached), payment milestone schedule, penalties for delays, warranty terms (minimum 2 years on construction work), and a process for reporting defects. A verbal agreement has no legal standing for disputes above 1,000 PLN.
Checklist
- Check the contractor's tax ID in CEIDG/KRS before the first meeting
- Ask for the liability insurance policy number and confirm it's valid
- Call at least 2 previous clients — ask specifically about deadlines and corrections
- Don't accept a deposit above 30% before work begins
- Sign a written contract with scope, schedule, and delay penalties
- Avoid cash-only payments — no invoice means no legal protection
- Have an independent estimate before comparing contractor quotes
- Verify who will physically perform the work, not just who signs the contract