Hiring a contractor — Austin, TX
The right questions up front save you the horror stories. Here's the checklist we'd want you to ask any Austin general contractor — including us.
★ 5.0 · 56 Google reviews · Licensed & insured · City of Austin permits pulled and managed · Written fixed-scope quote before work starts
Licensed and insured, 5.0 stars across 56 reviews, written fixed-scope quotes, a named point of contact, City of Austin permits handled, a workmanship warranty in your agreement, and a milestone-based payment schedule. Ask us all of the above — we want you to.
At a glance
| Item | What this page states |
|---|---|
| Are you licensed and insured? | Yes — licensed and insured |
| Can I see references and recent projects? | Yes — 5.0 from 56 Google reviews and 60+ documented projects on this site |
| Is the scope and price in writing, as a fixed price? | Yes — written fixed-scope quotes |
| Who is on site day to day? | A named point of contact |
| Who pulls the permits? | Bailey & Bear — City of Austin permits handled |
| What warranty do you stand behind? | A workmanship warranty written into your agreement |
| What is the payment schedule? | Milestone-based |
Every answer above is stated on this page. Ask us all of them — we want you to.
Straight answers
Ask if they're licensed and insured, for local references, for the scope and price in writing as a fixed price, the schedule and your day-to-day contact, how change orders work, who pulls permits, what warranty they stand behind, and the payment schedule. Get the key items in writing before work starts.
Verify license and insurance, check recent local references and reviews, insist on a written fixed-scope agreement, and confirm they pull City of Austin permits. Milestone-based payments (not a large upfront lump) are another good sign.
The contractor should pull and manage the permits. Bailey & Bear handles City of Austin permitting and inspections as part of the project.
Proof, not adjectives
Bailey & Bear holds a 5.0 rating from 56 Google reviews. Every project below is a real job with photos on this site.
Academia Bar and Restaurant, Austin — a full commercial renovation completed December 2017, covering electrical, plumbing, bathrooms, tile, countertops, a bar rail system, custom cabinetry, custom lighting, and ventilation.
Read the Academia case study · Browse the full project gallery
Get a free, written, fixed-scope quote from Bailey & Bear.