How to hire a bathroom remodeler without getting burned
A bathroom is a small room with an outsized number of ways for a rushed or under-scoped job to go wrong, quietly, behind a wall you can't see. Here is what to check before anyone starts, and how to make two quotes actually comparable.
Verify three things before anyone comes out
The licence, in their name. Ask for the number and look it up yourself with the state licensing board. It takes a few minutes and it's public information.
Insurance, sent directly from the carrier. A certificate emailed to you by the contractor is not the same as one sent directly by their insurer. General liability matters, and so does workers' compensation — if someone is injured in your home and there's no comp coverage, that risk can become yours.
Who's actually doing the plumbing and electrical. In most jurisdictions this work needs a licensed plumber and electrician, whether that's the general contractor's own crew or a named subcontractor. Ask who it is, specifically.
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The lines that should end the conversation
“We don't need a permit for plumbing work like this.” Moving a drain, adding a circuit, or relocating a vent stack typically requires one. You need it for resale and insurance; the work needs it to be inspected.
“We'll waterproof it with the tile.” Tile is not waterproofing. Grout is porous. If nobody can name the specific membrane going behind the tile, the quote is incomplete.
“Half down to get you on the schedule.” A third is a common ceiling. More than that and you're financing materials and labor for a job that hasn't started.
“We'll figure out the plumbing scope once we're in there.” Whether the drain or vent moves is one of the biggest cost drivers in the entire project. It needs to be decided and priced before you sign, not discovered mid-demo.
What belongs in the contract
Scope written in specifics — the waterproofing system named by product, whether the plumbing layout changes, what happens to the existing subfloor. A payment schedule tied to milestones, not calendar dates. A named change-order process, so anything found once the wall is open gets priced and approved in writing before the crew keeps going. A start date and a realistic completion date that accounts for material lead times, since cabinets and custom glass often take longer to arrive than the labor takes to install them. And the workmanship warranty term, in writing, separate from whatever the manufacturer covers on the materials.
Comparing quotes on scope, not price
Two quotes for ‘the same’ bathroom can differ by thousands and still both be honest, if they're scoped differently. Before comparing the bottom line, check whether both quotes include a permit, name the same category of waterproofing system, include an allowance for hidden subfloor or framing repair, and assume the same plumbing scope.
Once those five things match, the price difference is usually just labor rate and finish selection — a fair comparison. Until they match, you're not comparing two prices for the same job.
Common questions
How many quotes should I get?
Two or three is generally enough if you compare scope carefully rather than just the total. More than that mostly adds confusion without adding useful information.
Is the cheapest quote ever the right choice?
Sometimes, but find out why it's cheapest before accepting it. The gap is usually an unnamed waterproofing method, no permit, or no allowance for what's found once the wall opens.
Should I hire a general contractor or separate trades myself?
For a full bathroom remodel, a general contractor who sequences the trades is usually worth it — a bathroom has more overlapping trades per square foot than most rooms, and a poorly sequenced job costs time and sometimes rework.
Licensed, insured, five-plus years in the trade. One company per area — never a list of five.