How to Hire a General Contractor in Bismarck-Mandan: A 7-Step Checklist

Who this is for: homeowners in Bismarck, Mandan and nearby towns who are about to compare contractors for a remodel.

Short answer

To hire a general contractor you can trust, check seven things before you sign: a written scope, an active North Dakota contractor license in the right class, proof of liability insurance and WSI coverage, written estimates you can compare line by line, a payment schedule tied to progress, a clear answer on who pulls permits, and a written warranty. If a contractor can't give you all seven, keep looking.

These steps follow North Dakota rules that national checklists skip, starting with the state license required once a job costs more than $4,000, according to the North Dakota Secretary of State. It's practical guidance from a working contractor, not legal advice.

What a general contractor does on a home remodel

A general contractor (GC) is responsible for the whole project, not just one trade. On a bathroom, basement or kitchen remodel, that usually means four jobs:

• Scope and price: turning your wish list into a written scope, estimate and schedule.
• Trades and materials: scheduling carpenters, tile setters, drywall finishers and licensed electricians and plumbers, and ordering materials on time.
• Permits and inspections: applying for the permits your job needs and booking inspections at the right stage.
• One point of contact and the warranty: one company to call during the job and after it's done.

A specialty contractor, such as a flooring installer, handles one trade; a GC coordinates all of them. North Dakota's contractor license applies to both, and electrical and plumbing work also need separate licenses from the state electrical and plumbing boards.

Step 1. Write down your scope and must-haves

Before you call anyone, write a one-page description of the job. It's the only way to get estimates you can actually compare. Include:

• Which rooms, and what gets removed, replaced or added
• Your top three must-haves, plus nice-to-haves
• A budget range and any timing limits (holidays, guests, winter travel)
• Known problems: a soft spot in the floor, an old leak, a damp basement corner
• Photos of the space as it is today

Give every contractor the same page. The North Dakota Attorney General's guide on choosing a contractor recommends a detailed list of work and materials, at least two or three written bids, and never accepting a verbal estimate.

For candidates, ask neighbors who've remodeled recently and staff at local supply stores, then look for real local project photos and reviews. If you're considering us, HHI works as a licensed residential general contractor in Bismarck-Mandan, and we'll price from your one-page scope like anyone else should.

Step 2. Check the North Dakota license and its class

Look up the contractor's license on the Secretary of State's free FirstStop search before you sign. Check that the license is active and in good standing, and that its class covers your project. North Dakota issues four classes, each capping the value of a single contract project:

• Class A: no limit
• Class B: up to $500,000
• Class C: up to $300,000
• Class D: up to $100,000

Search by the business's legal name, the same name that will be on your contract. When we tested the search in October 2026, a license number on its own returned nothing, but the business name worked. Our guide shows how to look up a contractor license in North Dakota and read each field on the record.

This step matters: under North Dakota Century Code chapter 43-07, working as a contractor without a required license is a class A misdemeanor.

Step 3. Get the insurance certificate and confirm WSI coverage

Ask for a certificate of liability insurance and confirm workers' compensation is current before anyone starts demolition. The Attorney General's office warns that if a contractor has no liability insurance, you may be liable for injuries to workers or others on your property.

In North Dakota, workers' comp comes from Workforce Safety & Insurance (WSI), the state's sole provider. A contractor's FirstStop record shows a separate WSI standing line and the expiration date of the liability insurance certificate on file. Make sure that date doesn't fall in the middle of your project.

How we handle it: our employees are covered through WSI, and you can ask our office for our license and insurance information before you sign.

Step 4. Compare written estimates line by line

Compare what each estimate includes before you compare totals, because two prices can describe two different jobs. Put the estimates side by side and check each line:

Estimate comparison template

Line item	What to look for
Scope of work	Rooms, demolition, what's removed and what stays
Materials	Named products or grades, not just "tile"
Allowances	Dollar amounts for fixtures or tile you'll pick later
Trades	Who does electrical, plumbing and HVAC
Permits	Included or extra, and who applies
Hidden damage	How surprises behind walls are priced
Cleanup	How cleanup, the dumpster and haul-away are handled
Schedule and payments	Start window, duration, what triggers each payment
Warranty	Workmanship term and product warranties

Watch the allowances. An allowance is a placeholder budget for something you haven't chosen yet, and a low one makes an estimate look cheaper until the change order arrives.

How we handle it: our estimates are written and list what's included and what isn't. If we find water damage, rot or framing problems once walls or floors are open, we show you, explain your options and price it clearly before we go further.

Step 5. Agree on a payment schedule tied to progress

Expect a deposit that holds your spot and covers materials, then payments tied to finished stages of work, not most of the money up front. The Attorney General lists "requiring advance non-refundable payments or payment in full before the work is completed" as a warning sign of a home repair scam.

A common structure: a deposit at signing, progress payments at defined milestones (for example, after rough-in inspections pass), and a final payment after the walkthrough. Pay by check or card and keep receipts.

Put start and completion dates in the contract, too. Under NDCC 43-07-02, a contractor who takes payment and willfully fails to substantially start within 60 days of a written start date (or 90 days of the contract date if none was set) may be committing construction fraud.

How we handle it: the deposit, what it covers and when the rest is due are written into your estimate before you sign.

Step 6. Ask who pulls permits and how you'll get updates

Your contractor should tell you which permits your job needs, who will apply for them and who your contact will be during the work.

The City of Bismarck requires permits for remodels and renovations (including basement finishes), electrical, plumbing and HVAC work, and its basement finish application asks for the contractor's name and contractor number. The city's building FAQ also notes that work done without permits can affect a home's insurability and sale. Bismarck Building Inspections: (701) 355-1465. Mandan doesn't publish its requirements online, so call Mandan Building Inspection at (701) 667-3230.

Then ask who answers your calls, how often you'll get updates, and how changes are approved. Any change to scope or price should be in writing before work continues. Here's how a remodel works from first call to check-up with us.

How we handle it: Viktor, our general contractor, is your contact for scope and price. Yurii, our Job Supervisor, or Don, our Foreman, runs the work on site as assigned, and Cyrene, our Office Manager, helps with scheduling and paperwork. We agree on how often you get text and photo updates at the start.

Step 7. Get the warranty in writing

Get both warranties in writing before you sign: the manufacturer's product warranty and the contractor's workmanship warranty, each with its length, coverage, exclusions and claim process. Our guide explains what a remodeling warranty should cover.

How we handle it: a one-year workmanship warranty and a free 12-month check-up; product coverage depends on the manufacturer and the item installed. Your written scope states the terms for your project.

Red flags

Slow down or walk away if you see any of these:

• Cash only, or most of the money due before work starts
• No license number, an inactive license, or a license under a different name
• A price given without seeing the job or photos
• No written scope, estimate or contract
• Pressure to sign today, or a "today only" discount
• Vague answers about who will do the work
• An out-of-town company that just opened a local office after a storm (the Attorney General notes it may need a transient merchant license)

If your project is a shower

Showers add questions general checklists miss: what waterproofing goes behind the tile, how the base is leak-tested, and what happens if there's rot under the old tub. Before you hire anyone, go through our shower-specific questions to ask.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find a good general contractor in Bismarck-Mandan?

Start with referrals from neighbors and local supply stores, then narrow the list with facts: an active North Dakota license in the right class, current insurance and WSI standing, real local project photos, and reviews that mention your type of work. Have two or three contractors price the same written scope and compare line by line.

What questions should I ask a general contractor?

Ask for the license number and class, an insurance certificate, and who will do each trade. Then ask what the estimate excludes, how hidden damage is priced, what the payment schedule is, who pulls permits, who your contact will be, and what the workmanship warranty covers in writing.

How does a general contractor get paid?

Most residential remodels use a fixed price: a deposit at signing, progress payments tied to completed milestones, and a final payment after the walkthrough. Some contractors work cost-plus, billing actual costs plus a set fee or percentage. Either way, the schedule belongs in the contract, and most of the money shouldn't be due before work starts.

What should I not say to a general contractor?

Avoid "just do whatever it takes" and verbal approvals for extra work, because both make the final price hard to control. Don't agree to skip permits to save time, and don't pay cash without a receipt. Do share your real budget range and timing early so a good contractor can give you honest options.

Is a general contractor the same as a contractor?

Not quite. "Contractor" covers anyone paid to do construction work, including single-trade specialists. A general contractor manages the whole project: scope, trades, materials, permits and schedule. In North Dakota, both need the same state license for jobs over $4,000, and the license class limits the size of a single project.

Send us your one-page scope and a few photos, and we'll return a written estimate you can compare against anyone's. Call or text Viktor at (701) 329-9659 with your town, photos and what you want to change. Our office follows up during business hours. You can also request a free written estimate through the form below. Hugo Home Improvement (Hugo Home Improvement LLC) holds North Dakota Contractor License No. 000050538, Class D, and our employees are covered through WSI.