Contractors that you hire for construction projects need to be licensed by the state and professionally bonded. Licensing is required to ensure the contractor has a working understanding of state and local zoning, building code, and insurance obligations. A bonded contractor will be able to cover any unforeseen damages caused by his or her work on your property.

Make sure your contractor has a level of skill that is commensurate with your needs. If you want a generic porch, you can get away with hiring any contractor that is accustomed to building basic porches. However, more involved designs will require a contractor with greater skill. Many people make the mistake of assuming that a professional contractor can automatically handle custom designs.

Get a realistic estimate from your contractor before work begins. Any professional contractor should be able to provide you with a reasonable estimate of cost and time. This will allow you to budget your time and money realistically to suit the project.

Try getting your contractor to put their estimate in writing. This will make things simpler should any unforeseen costs arise. It's much easier to keep to the estimate if you have it in writing.