The best contractor questions produce documents, names and decisions—not rehearsed assurances. Give each Hillsboro bidder the same plans and project brief, then record answers about Oregon licensing, city permits, trade responsibility, allowances, schedule, changes and closeout. The goal is a comparable proposal and a contract that explains what happens when conditions change.
What is the exact legal business and CCB license?
Search the name through Oregon CCB and confirm the entity matches the proposal and agreement. Ask which company supervises the work and receives payment. For electrical, plumbing or other regulated trades, identify the responsible licensed businesses separately.
What permit path applies to this address and scope?
Hillsboro publishes permit-center resources and online applications. Ask who prepares plans, applies, pays fees, responds to corrections, schedules inspections and obtains final approval. A statement that permits are included is incomplete without responsibilities and schedule dependencies.
What is included by room and assembly?
Request a scope that states what remains, what is removed, preparation, installed product, transitions and finished condition. Attach drawings, photographs and selection schedules. Ask bidders to list exclusions so a low total does not rely on work being shifted to the owner.
Who performs each regulated trade?
Record the electrical, plumbing, mechanical and specialty subcontractors or the process for selecting them. Ask how their scope is coordinated, inspected and corrected. A general contractor's license does not turn every worker into the appropriate trade professional.
How are allowances reconciled?
Every allowance should state quantity, quality basis, tax, delivery and labor treatment. Ask how actual cost becomes a credit or addition and when selections are due. One combined finish allowance prevents meaningful comparison.
What concealed conditions are anticipated?
Ask what can be investigated before contract and what remains unknown. Set opening limits, documentation, unit prices where useful and a stop-work threshold. Require written price and time approval before concealed repair is covered.
What controls the schedule?
Request milestones linked to permits, inspections, long-lead deliveries, trades and owner decisions. Ask who updates the sequence after a correction or delay. A start and finish date without dependencies is not a workable schedule.
How are changes approved?
Require a written description, price, schedule effect and authorization before extra work proceeds except immediate safety stabilization. Clarify who can approve and how credits are handled. Verbal field direction should not become an unexplained final invoice.
What protection and occupied-home rules apply?
Discuss access, dust barriers, utility outages, temporary facilities, material storage, debris route, daily cleanup, pets and security. The plan should be specific to the property and included in the proposal.
How are progress and payments verified?
Tie payments to completed milestones, delivered materials and required approvals rather than dates alone. Ask for documentation appropriate to the project and how disputed or incomplete work is handled before the next draw.
What proves completion?
Define functional tests, finish review, final inspections, punch-list resolution and documents before final payment. Collect permits, inspection results, photographs, product data, warranties and applicable lien information. Occupancy alone is not closeout.
Frequently asked questions
How many bids should use the same project brief?
Every bid being compared should use the same drawings, scope, selection schedule and access assumptions.
How do I verify an Oregon contractor?
Search the exact legal business through Oregon CCB and confirm the record matches the agreement.
Who should handle Hillsboro permits?
Assign applications, corrections, inspections and final approval in writing; do not rely on an assumed default.
What makes an allowance useful?
A quantity, product basis, tax and delivery treatment, labor boundary and reconciliation method.
When should a change order be signed?
Before extra work proceeds, after scope, price and schedule effect are documented.
What should final payment follow?
Required approvals, functional tests, punch-list resolution and delivery of agreed closeout records.
Sources and local guidance
- Building PermitsCity of Hillsboro
- Construction Contractors BoardOregon Construction Contractors Board
- Getting Licensed WorkOregon Building Codes Division