Next up is communication, or lack of it. If your calls go unanswered, emails take days to get a reply, or explanations sound vague or confusing—take it seriously. You need someone who keeps you in the loop, not someone who vanishes until the invoice shows up. Poor communication early on usually leads to bigger problems later. It’s not just annoying—it can delay your build, lead to misunderstandings, or worse, result in work that doesn’t match what you actually wanted.
Another big one? Reputation. Reviews don’t lie. Sure, no one has a perfect record, but if you’re seeing the same complaints again and again—missed deadlines, shoddy work, or rude behavior—that’s not a coincidence. It’s a pattern. Ask for references. Talk to real people who’ve hired them before. Scroll through their social media or check out their previous projects. If they’re proud of their work, they’ll have no problem showing it off. If they avoid your questions or brush off negative reviews? Red flag.
Let’s talk about contracts too. A good contract should be detailed, not full of fuzzy terms like “as needed” or “reasonable effort.” It should clearly spell out the timeline, cost, payment schedule, materials, and what happens if something goes wrong. Vague contracts are dangerous because they leave you unprotected when issues come up—and they will come up. A contractor who’s hesitant to put things in writing might not be confident they can deliver.
