1. Who exactly will be on site?
Ask whether the company builds with its own people or through subcontractors. Neither is automatically bad, but with a chain of subcontractors it is much harder to tell who is responsible for a defect and who for a delay.
2. Is the deadline part of the contract?
A verbal estimate is not a commitment. A schedule with milestones belongs in the construction contract, together with what happens if the deadline is missed.
3. How are changes handled during construction?
Changes happen almost every time. What matters is whether they are priced in writing in advance or only show up on the final invoice.
4. Do you have liability insurance?
If damage occurs to a neighbouring plot or someone's property during construction, liability insurance settles what would otherwise end up in court.
5. Can I see a site under construction?
A finished house tells you little. A site under construction shows how tidy it is, the quality of the formwork and how materials are stored.
6. What exactly does the warranty cover?
Find out how long the warranty on the work lasts and how claims are handled: within how many days the company comes out and what the warranty doesn't cover.
