Protecting Your Investment: Key Considerations When Hiring a Remodeling Contractor

The Risks of Hiring the Wrong Contractor

Bluntly, the remodeling industry is crowded with contractors who shouldn’t be touching your home. In high-value areas like Brookline, Newton, or Lexington, hiring the wrong contractor can quickly turn into a six-figure mistake. We know this because we’ve been the second (and third) team on site plenty of times, called in to clean up messes after unlicensed, underprepared, or flat-out dishonest contractors walked away from unfinished or failing projects. It’s a niche where we’re proud to shine.

One of the most frustrating realities is that these contractors often sound great during the estimate process. They say “yes” to everything and promise quick timelines, low prices, and clean finishes, but the second a surprise pops up (which it always does), they disappear, change their story, or blame you. When a project goes wrong, it creates delays, damages your trust, and often requires starting over with demo, permitting, or even legal intervention. It’s not worth the gamble.

What to Ask Before You Hire a Remodeling Contractor

Use this list to evaluate any contractor you're considering for your home renovation. If a contractor resists any of these questions, move on. The right team will answer confidently and back it all up with proof.

1. Are you licensed and insured?

• Ask for their Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) and Construction Supervisor License (CSL) numbers.
• Request copies of general liability and worker’s compensation insurance.
• Verify licenses using the Mass.gov License Lookup tool. Some shady contractors are using others’ credentials.

2. Have you completed similar projects in this area?

• Ask for examples of projects similar in size and scope to yours.
• Ensure they’ve worked in your specific city or town. Many areas have different permitting, materials, and structural quirks.
• Request before-and-after photos and details on timelines.

3. Can I speak with past clients?

• Get references from clients whose projects are comparable to yours.
• Ask those clients how the contractor handled surprises, changes, and communication.

4. Who will be doing the work?

• Clarify if the contractor uses in-house employees or subcontractors.
• Ask who will be on-site daily and who is responsible for project management and updates.

Local Insight: Why Location Matters More Than You Think

You might think remodeling a home in Lexington is basically the same as remodeling in Brookline. On paper, sure, they're both affluent, historic suburbs. But when you're inside the walls, the differences are huge. This is where homeowners often get burned. They hire a contractor who says, “I’ve done this before.” But they’ve never done it here. And in remodeling, that one detail can change everything.

A contractor who understands your town knows the building inspectors by name (and what they’re sticklers for). They understand the aesthetic and permitting threshold and can design around common material issues before they cause delays, which leads to a more realistic timeline and cost estimate based on hyper-local precedent.

Real-World Examples From the Field

Brookline

If a contractor hasn’t worked in Brookline before, they won’t anticipate these conditions, which means change orders, delays, and a budget that explodes halfway through construction. You'll likely find historic construction details in Brookline’s older homes.

• Wire mesh and horsehair plaster (which crumbles the second you open up a wall)
• 4 inches of concrete under bathroom floors
• Uninsulated exterior walls
• Old clay pipes that are no longer code-compliant
• Brick exteriors that complicate demo, waterproofing, and additions

Lexington, Newton, Danvers, and Beyond

These towns have their own quirks that require detailed planning.

• Lexington often features mid-century homes with complex roof lines and hidden framing issues.
• Newton is filled with additions built in the ’70s and ’80s that aren’t up to current code.
• Danvers, despite its suburban feel, is highly restrictive in certain neighborhoods. For example, a large lot doesn’t always mean building flexibility unless it’s properly zoned.
  

Why “Cheapest” Can End Up Being the Most Expensive

There’s a reason why we don’t try to be the cheapest contractor in town. In remodeling, as in almost all quality endeavors, you truly get what you pay for. And if you're only looking at price, you're almost guaranteed to overlook risk.

What “Low-Bid” Contractors Often Leave Out

• Permitting and zoning research
• Dealing with legacy materials like clay pipes or plaster walls
• Inspections, engineering reports, or asbestos testing
• The real cost of proper waterproofing, structural framing, or demo

Most low bids only cover what’s easy to see, but the hidden costs emerge once walls come down. That’s when the change orders start. And that’s when your budget starts spiraling. We’ve taken over dozens of projects on which the first contractor walked away or got kicked off the job because they underbid, underestimated, or didn’t understand the scope.

How Smart Clients Avoid This Trap

We actually encourage clients to interview multiple contractors. Not because we’re nervous about competition, but because we know the difference will be obvious. When clients speak to five contractors, they quickly see who really understands the scope and challenges and who is winging it. Expertise is hard to fake and will starkly contrast vague promises. Most of the time, they return to us because we’re proven to be the most capable, honest, and experienced.

Here’s What Makes Us Different

We act as Construction Managers.

We manage every aspect of the project, design, budget, timeline, and execution with full transparency. That means realistic pricing tied to scope and site conditions, clear, written plans and estimates, and thoughtful communication every step of the way.

Our Pre-Construction Development process is built around you.

You give us the dream and the budget, and we build the path. We don’t upsell, underdeliver, or hide change orders in the fine print. You’ll receive a detailed design within your budget, which will save you time, stress, and money and provide serious peace of mind.

We know Greater Boston inside and out.

From Brookline’s historic building requirements to Danvers' zoning limitations, we know how to navigate the system and avoid costly delays. This is firsthand, hard-won experience.

We’re selective because you should be too.

We only take on projects where we can bring real value. If someone’s looking for the fastest, cheapest solution, we’re not the right fit. But if they want a team that’s going to do it right the first time, we’re exactly what they need.

Ready to Build With Confidence? Let’s Talk.

Hiring the right contractor is the single most important step in your remodeling journey. At Honorato Company, we bring deep local experience, proven processes, and a team committed to doing it right the first time. We want the result to speak for itself long after construction ends.

Planning a remodel or other custom construction in Greater Boston: Brookline, Newton, Lexington, Danvers, Wellesley, or beyond? Contact us today. Let’s talk about your project. We’ll meet you on-site, walk you through your options, and show you what it looks like to move forward with total clarity.