Protect Your Home With This Simple Checklist

If hiring a contractor makes you anxious, you’re not overreacting. You’re protecting your biggest asset.

In a recent Hire It Done episode, Adam Helfman sat down with Brian Lee of Metro Home Improvements, a 42-year veteran serving Macomb County and the Metro Detroit area, and they got very real about what actually keeps a remodel from turning into a headache.

Use this checklist before you sign anything, whether you’re planning a kitchen remodel, bathroom remodel, basement finishing, or a room addition in Southeast Michigan.

Home Shows Are Great for Ideas, Not Proof

A home show can spark inspiration fast. That’s why Adam and Brian talked about the Macomb Spring Home Show and how it helps homeowners “generate ideas.”

But a friendly booth isn’t a background check.

Brian’s first instruction is simple: “Do a little homework on them.” That homework protects your home, your timeline, and your wallet.

The 3 Non-Negotiables That Separate Pros From “Cowboys”

Brian’s checklist has three steps. If a contractor can’t clear these, keep moving.

1) Check the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

Brian said BBB accreditation “kind of does” matter because it signals a higher standard and a code of ethics.

No system is perfect, but BBB membership gives you a quick read on professionalism and accountability. If a contractor dismisses it like it’s nothing, treat that as information.

2) Confirm they’re licensed

Licensing isn’t “archaic.” It’s how you reduce risk.

Brian’s warning was blunt when Adam asked about people who claim they don’t need a license: “Do not use the person.”

And if the low price tempts you, remember this line from the episode: “Saving a few nickels up front is gonna cost you tens of thousands of dollars at the end.”

3) Demand proof of insurance (this is the big one)

Brian called insurance “really key,” and he gave a scenario every homeowner should picture:

If electrical work accidentally starts a fire, you don’t want to find out too late that you hired an uninsured contractor.

With an insured contractor, their insurance covers mistakes made on their side. Without it, you can end up fighting your own insurer while they ask the question Brian mentioned: “Why did you have an unlicensed, uninsured contractor doing work on your home?”

5 Smart Questions to Ask at the First Meeting

You don’t need to interrogate a contractor. You need a few questions that reveal how they work.

• “Have you done a project like mine?” Brian said he wants homeowners to ask this. You’re looking for real experience with your type of home and your goals.
• “Who’s actually doing the work?” Ask if the installers and trades get subbed out constantly or if the contractor works with the same trusted crew. Consistency usually means fewer surprises and cleaner accountability.
• “Can you establish a budget range today?” Brian’s take: a good contractor should know pricing well enough to give you a clear budget range during the first visit (with allowances for specific finishes later). You deserve clarity early.
• “How do change orders work?” Ask what happens when they find hidden issues behind walls. Brian explained that if the extra work is manageable, he keeps rolling so the project doesn’t stall. If it’s major and expensive, he stops and discusses it. You can also set your own rule: tell them to notify you anytime a change exceeds a number you choose (like $1,000 or $5,000).
• “How often will you update me?” Brian said his team gives homeowners a daily rundown: what got done today and what’s happening tomorrow. That kind of communication reduces anxiety because you’re not guessing.

Plan Your Remodel Like a Pro (Without Getting Lost in Pinterest)

Brian dropped a line you should steal for every remodel: “People don’t plan to fail. They fail to plan.”

Start with how you live

Brian’s advice: don’t let Pinterest create “analysis paralysis.” What looks perfect online often “won’t fit your space.”

Instead, stand in your kitchen and think in real life:

• Where do you want the fridge?
• Do you need a pantry?
• Do you want a Lazy Susan?
• Where do the kids do homework?
• Where do people gather when you host?

Then do the cheapest prep move possible: grab a pad of paper and write it down. Adam agreed: “The more prepared a homeowner is, the better you are.”

Design tip that saves you money and regret

Brian also called out a common myth: the “kitchen triangle” is the old way of designing kitchens. Today, many Southeast Michigan homeowners want large islands, better flow for entertaining, and storage that matches how you actually live.

If you keep your focus on functionality first, you’ll make better decisions on cabinetry, countertops, and layout, and you’ll avoid paying for features that look good online but don’t work in your space.

Respect the Timeline Reality in Southeast Michigan

If you want your remodel done by a holiday, you need to plan earlier than you think.

Brian explained why: you don’t control city inspections, and one failed inspection can slow everything down while you wait for a re-check. Then you have ordering, scheduling, and trade sequencing.

A pro can run it efficiently, but you still need a timeline that matches reality.

How You Prevent Disputes Before They Start

Most “disputes” start as confusion. Here’s what Brian recommended, translated into homeowner language you can use.

Write your concerns down

Brian’s dispute-resolution advice is practical: write issues on paper.

You live in the job, so you notice unfinished steps that the crew may plan to complete later. Writing it down helps you separate “in progress” from “needs fixing.”

Use a punch list and final walkthrough

Instead of calling out every half-finished detail mid-day, ask for a final walkthrough punch list at the end. That’s where pros tighten doors, align finishes, and handle details the right way.

Demand clear communication

Brian compared the remodel experience to a relationship: you love it at the start, you want to “divorce” in the middle, and you love it again at the end when you see the finished space.

Daily or weekly communication keeps that middle stage from spiraling. You don’t need constant meetings. You need clarity and a predictable update rhythm.

If You’re in Macomb County, Here’s Your Next Step

If you want a team that handles the vetting basics (licensed, insured, professional) and also brings real process to your remodel, talk to Brian Lee of Metro Home Improvements, known by many homeowners as Macomb County’s Favorite Home Improvement Company.

At Metro Home Improvements, the team turns your house into the home of your dreams with expert craftsmanship and top-quality materials. They specialise in kitchens, bathrooms, finished basements, dormers, and complete additions, proudly serving Macomb County and surrounding Metro Detroit communities.

📞 Call (586) 929-0224 for a free consultation, and if you want another layer of protection, start your search through HireItDone.com so you can compare and hire trusted, vetted pros with less stress.