The NJ Contractor Vetting Checklist
A free, one-page checklist you can bring to any NJ contractor conversation — roofing, tree work, fencing, driveways or decks. It's the licensing, insurance, permit and payment questions that separate a real bid from a lowball you'll regret. Compiled from published NJ homeowner reports and the state's own contractor-registration rules.
What's on the checklist
- NJ Home Improvement Contractor (HIC) registration — the number every NJ contractor must carry, and how to verify it with the Division of Consumer Affairs.
- Insurance — proof of general liability and workers' comp, and why a certificate mailed directly from the insurer matters.
- Permits — who pulls the permit (it should be the contractor), and the projects where NJ actually requires one.
- Written scope & line items — the detail that lets you compare two quotes fairly instead of guessing what's included.
- Deposit & payment terms — NJ's limits on deposits, and the payment schedule that keeps you protected until the work is done.
- References & recent local jobs — the questions that surface how a crew actually performs, not just how they sell.
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A note on "vetted" contractors
This checklist helps you vet a contractor — we don't hand-inspect the pros in any lead network, and we never claim to. When you request quotes through this site, a lead partner routes you to local NJ contractors; they are not personally vetted by us. Our job is to hand you the questions that protect you. Read the full disclosure on how we make money.