Go Far® (425) 599-3526

Hiring guide · 2026

How to Choose a General Contractor in Washington State

The contractor decision is the remodel decision — the same project is a joy or a lawsuit depending on who runs it. Here is the vetting checklist we would use on our own houses, written for Washington homeowners.

1. Verify the registration, not the business card

Washington requires general contractors to register with the state Department of Labor & Industries, which means carrying a bond and liability insurance. L&I runs a public "Verify a Contractor" lookup — search the company name and confirm the registration is active and the bond intact. Thirty seconds, non-negotiable.

2. Read reviews the smart way

Look across several platforms — Google, Yelp, BBB, Angi, Nextdoor — not just the one on the contractor’s website. Ignore the star average; read the middling reviews, which is where honest detail lives, and watch how the company responds when something went wrong. Every established contractor has a hiccup; good ones own and fix it in public.

3. Demand an itemized, written bid

One number on one page is not a bid, it is a hope. An itemized price — demolition, framing, electrical, plumbing, finishes, permits, allowances — tells you what is actually included, lets you compare bids like-for-like, and becomes your protection when scope questions come up mid-project. If itemizing is "not how we do it," that is your answer about the whole relationship.

4. Ask the questions that reveal the operation

  • Who is on site daily — an owner, a dedicated lead, or whoever is available?
  • Who pulls permits and meets inspectors?
  • How are change orders priced and approved — in writing, before the work?
  • What does the payment schedule look like? (Progress payments tied to milestones are healthy; a huge up-front deposit is not.)

5. Know the red flags

Pressure to sign today. Cash-only pricing. No written contract. A deposit far ahead of materials actually ordered. Vagueness about the license or insurance. Any one of these is a walk-away.

Then meet us with the checklist open

Go Far Construction is a family-owned, licensed Washington general contractor — owners on your project, itemized pricing that holds, and 12+ years of Lynnwood-area homes as our reference list. Bring this checklist to the first meeting; we like clients who vet hard. Start with a free estimate.

Keep reading

How Much Does a Kitchen Remodel Cost in Washington? ADU & DADU Rules in Lynnwood and Snohomish County: A Homeowner’s Guide Do You Need a Permit to Remodel in Lynnwood, WA?

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