Hiring the wrong contractor is expensive. Not just the money — it's the stress of chasing someone who won't return your calls, the frustration of work that doesn't match what was promised, and the legal mess of trying to fix it. Here's how to avoid that in Greenville.
Check the License
South Carolina requires contractors to be licensed by the SC LLR (Department of Labor, Licensing, and Regulation) for any project over $5,000. You can verify any contractor's license at llr.sc.gov. If they can't give you a license number, walk away.
Verify Insurance
Ask for a Certificate of Insurance (COI) showing general liability and workers' compensation coverage. Call the insurance company listed on the COI to verify it's active. If a worker gets hurt on your property and the contractor doesn't have workers' comp, you could be liable.
Get Everything in Writing
A legitimate contractor provides a written scope of work, a line-item estimate, a payment schedule, a timeline with start and completion dates, and warranty terms. If they say "we'll figure it out as we go" or give you a verbal estimate, that's a red flag.
Red Flags to Watch For
Be cautious if a contractor: asks for full payment upfront (standard is 10-30% deposit), doesn't have a physical address or local phone number, pressures you to sign immediately, offers to "beat any price" without seeing the scope, shows up with out-of-state plates after a storm, or refuses to pull permits.
Questions to Ask Before Signing
Ask these five questions before you hire anyone: Who specifically will be on my job site? (Named foreman, not "my guys.") What happens if the project runs over budget? Do I own all the accounts and logins you create? What's your warranty and what does it actually cover? Can I talk to three recent clients in the area?
The Payment Schedule
A fair payment schedule for a major project: 10-30% deposit to start, progress payments tied to completed milestones (not dates), and final payment upon completion and your walkthrough approval. Never pay 100% upfront. Never pay ahead of the work.
Why This Matters
Greenville's construction market is competitive, and most contractors do good work. But the ones who don't can cost you tens of thousands of dollars and months of stress. Fifteen minutes of due diligence before signing saves a lot of pain after.
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