What to look for when interviewing a contractor, as a midterm rental host

Written by: Rene

If you’ve been following along on social media, I recently started a series about my 5 Contractor Red Flags to look for when looking for when hiring a contractor for a renovation project. I honestly wasn't expecting the series to get much engagement, but Red Flag #2 sparked a surprising amount of discussion on Instagram—much of it from contractors who strongly disagreed with my perspective.

I've found that strong reactions often come from either misunderstandings or past experiences, so instead of ignoring the comments, I chose to engage with them. I tried to look past the name-calling and understand what I might be missing.

From my perspective, what I was trying to say in the reel is that I have had many contractors who will give me an estimate, and just list the total number.
For me, having at least the basic scope of work listed (ex: replace kitchen cabinets, replace flooring, update plumbing to code) is very important to 1) make sure we are on the same page about what work is to be done, and 2) make sure there is at least some documentation about what I am signing a contract for.

In the video, I described this as wanting an "itemized quote." Through the conversations in the comments, I realized that this phrase means something very different within the construction industry.

From what I understand—and contractors, please correct me if I'm wrong—an itemized quote often refers to a highly detailed estimate that requires significant time to prepare. It may include labor breakdowns, material quantities, individual costs, overhead, profit margins, and many other details. If that's what contractors believed I was asking for, I can understand why my video struck a nerve. From their perspective, it may have sounded like I expected hours of estimating work for free and intended to scrutinize every line item to negotiate away their profit.
That wasn't my intention at all.

What I was asking for was much simpler: a clear description of the scope of work so both parties know exactly what is—and isn't—included in the project.

This conversation has been genuinely enlightening for me. It reminded me how easily the same words can mean different things to different industries. I hope discussions like this can help create more understanding between contractors and homeowners.

Better communication benefits everyone, and I think the more we can approach these conversations with curiosity instead of assumptions, the better projects—and relationships—we'll build.

I’m so glad you found your way to this little corner of the hosting world. Here’s to better Midterm rentals (and more productive conversations)
~Rene

P.S. If you haven’t already, follow my journey on Tiktok, Pinterest, and Instagram.