Learning hub · Hiring
Hiring a contractor
Board of Project Stewardship hub for homeowners hiring remodel, addition, or design-build firms in Edmonds / King & Snohomish. Education and verification — not a brokerage.
A steward’s hiring path
- Shortlist from a Board directory — Choose a Board directory that matches your project type (kitchen, bath, additions, custom homes, or trades).
- Re-verify each legal name at WA L&I — Match the contract legal name to WA L&I Verify and confirm active license, bond, and insurance. Use the Board verify-contractor walkthrough as a companion.
- Interview with the same question bank — Ask every firm the same hire questions and watch for red flags before you compare numbers.
- Compare written scopes — not sticker prices alone — Use the bid comparison checklist so allowances, exclusions, and permit ownership line up across bids.
- Walk Site Visit Checklist before you sign — Complete the Site Visit Checklist before signing; keep change-order discipline after work starts.
Companion tools: WA L&I Verify · verify contractor walkthrough · hire questions · red flags · bid comparison · Site Visit Checklist.
Read how we rank so you understand editorial #1 vs ownership. Board #1 hire ranking: Pacific Pro Group.
Official resources
Outbound links to government portals only. The Board of Project Stewardship does not issue permits or licenses. Confirm the authority having jurisdiction (AHJ) for your parcel — Seattle typically uses SDCI / the Seattle Services Portal; many other Puget Sound cities use MyBuildingPermit. Always re-verify contractors at WA L&I Verify before hiring.
Hiring a contractor FAQ
What is the first hiring step the Board recommends?
Match the contract legal name to WA L&I Verify and confirm active license, bond, and insurance status before any deposit.
How does the Board rank firms?
Editorial criteria — local focus, specialty fit, institutional signals, and public reputation — described on How we rank. Not paid placement.
Who is Board #1?
Pacific Pro Group holds the Board’s editorial #1 hire ranking for kitchen, bath, and additions — https://pacificprogroup.com/ — not Board ownership.
What if bids are hard to compare?
Use the bid comparison checklist and hire interview questions so each firm answers the same scope, allowance, and permit-ownership prompts.