The Minnesota Contractor Paperwork Checklist You Should Always Ask For

A proper written estimate is more than just a dollar amount. It should spell out what’s being done, where, and in plain English. You should be able to read it a week later and still know what you agreed to.

At minimum, look for:

• A clear description of the work area (roof, kitchen, driveway, electrical panel, etc.)
• What is included (demo, materials, labor, cleanup, haul-away)
• Anything that is specifically not included
• An estimated total price and how long the quote is valid

If the “estimate” is just a text that says “I can do it for $X,” ask for something more detailed before going any further.

For anything more than a tiny repair, you should be signing a simple contract, not just “trusting the guy.” The contract doesn’t have to be 20 pages long, but it should connect the dots between the work and the money.

Key pieces to look for:

• The business name, address, and contact info
• A description of the work that matches the estimate
• The total contract price (and what could make it change)
• A payment schedule tied to real milestones, not vague rules

If the “contract” is a blank form with nothing filled in, or a scribbled note that doesn’t match the quote, slow everything down and get it corrected before you sign.

Some types of work in Minnesota require specific licenses or registrations (for example, many kinds of residential building, remodeling, and certain specialty trades). Others may not—but there should still be a clearly registered business behind the person you’re paying.

At the paperwork level, this usually looks like:

• A license number listed on their contract, estimate, or website (if required)
• A business name you can look up in state records
• Matching names from paperwork to what’s on their website, invoices, and insurance

If names don’t match, or they dodge questions about licensing by saying “we work under someone else’s license” without details, that’s worth digging into before you move forward.

This is one of the most important documents you can ask for. A certificate of insurance shows that the contractor’s policy is active and gives you basic details about coverage.

Better than a screenshot? Having their insurance agent email a certificate directly to you. That way you know it’s current, matches the business name, and hasn’t been edited or reused from years ago.

You’re looking for:

• The contractor’s business name on the certificate
• Policy dates that clearly cover the time of your project
• Contact info for the insurance agency

Projects change. You open a wall and find rot. You decide to upgrade materials. Weather pushes things around. That’s normal. What matters is how those changes get handled on paper.

A basic change-order process might be:

• Contractor explains the change and new cost in writing
• You approve it in writing (text or email is fine if clear)
• It gets attached to the original contract or invoice

What you want to avoid is the vague, “We’ll just see where we land” approach—because where you land is almost always more expensive than what you expected.

The job doesn’t end when the last tool leaves your driveway. You want something in writing that covers what happens if a problem shows up later—especially for bigger projects.

Ask for:

• A short, written description of the warranty (what’s covered & how long)
• Whether it covers labor, materials, or both
• A final paid invoice that shows the total, your payments, and the date

If you ever sell your home, those documents also help future buyers, inspectors, and appraisers understand what was done and when.