Austin's construction and home repair market has exploded over the past decade. With the city's rapid growth has come a flood of new contractors — some excellent, some inexperienced, and a few who are actively predatory. Knowing how to evaluate who you're hiring can save you thousands of dollars and a great deal of stress. This guide is written to be honest and practical. We'll tell you exactly what to look for — including things that protect you from any contractor, us included.
Start With Licensing
Texas has specific licensing requirements depending on the type of work being performed. Not everything requires a license, but several trades do, and verifying them takes less than five minutes.
- Electricians must be licensed by the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation (TDLR). Verify at tdlr.texas.gov.
- Plumbers are licensed by the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners.
- HVAC technicians are licensed by TDLR.
- General contractors in Austin do not require a state license, but must comply with City of Austin permit requirements for most projects.
Verify Insurance
Before any contractor steps foot on your property, ask for proof of two types of insurance:
- General Liability Insurance — covers damage the contractor causes to your property during the job.
- Workers' Compensation Insurance — if a worker is injured on your property and the contractor doesn't carry workers' comp, you could be liable.
Check Their Online Presence and Reviews
- Google Reviews — look at the overall rating, but more importantly read the actual reviews, especially negative ones.
- Better Business Bureau — an F rating or pattern of unresolved complaints is worth noting. Visit bbb.org/local/austin.
- Search "[contractor name] + Austin + complaint" to surface issues that wouldn't appear in curated review profiles.
- Check Nextdoor and neighborhood Facebook groups for candid recommendations or warnings from actual neighbors.
Ask the Right Questions Before Signing Anything
- "Are you going to pull permits for this work?" — Any work that requires a permit should be permitted. Skipping permits transfers risk to you.
- "Can I get references for similar work you've completed recently?" — Actually call them.
- "Who will actually be doing the work?" — Ask if subcontractors are vetted, insured, and supervised.
- "What's your process if something goes wrong?" — A professional will describe their warranty policy clearly. Evasiveness is a warning sign.
Red Flags to Watch For
Door-to-Door Solicitation After a Storm
After every significant hail event in Austin, out-of-town contractors flood the area. Legitimate local contractors don't need to knock on your door. Be skeptical of anyone pushing you to sign anything on the spot.
Pressure to Decide Immediately
High-pressure tactics like "this price is only good today" are sales manipulation. Legitimate contractors don't need to rush you.
Asking for Full Payment Upfront
A deposit of 10–30% is reasonable. Full payment before work begins is not. If a contractor needs the full amount upfront, either they have cash flow problems or they're planning to disappear.
Vague or Verbal-Only Estimates
Every job should have a written estimate specifying scope of work, materials, timeline, and payment schedule. If someone is resistant to putting it in writing, don't hire them.
Drastically Lower Bids Than Competitors
If one bid is 40% below the other two, ask why. The answer is almost always corners cut on materials, skipped permits, unqualified labor, or an underestimate they'll correct mid-project.
Get Multiple Bids on Significant Work
For any project over a few hundred dollars, get at least two or three estimates. When comparing, make sure they're specifying the same scope and materials — a lower bid that uses cheaper materials isn't actually cheaper.
Get Everything in Writing
Before any work begins, you should have a signed contract that includes: a clear description of work, specific materials to be used, start and estimated completion dates, a payment schedule tied to milestones, a change order process, and warranty terms. If a contractor resists a written contract, do not hire them.
Why We're Telling You All of This
We know this guide could be used to scrutinize us just as easily as anyone else. That's intentional. House Doctors of Austin is fully insured, licensed where required, pulls permits for work that requires them, and provides a written estimate before we touch anything in your home. If you want to vet us, we welcome it.
Call us at (737) 371-8827 or visit https://www.housedoctors.com/austin-tx/contact-us/ to get a straight answer and a written estimate.
House Doctors of Austin is a locally owned and operated handyman, home repair, and home renovation service serving Austin and the surrounding Central Texas area.