Hiring help for your home in Delaware

A few checks before anyone starts work can save you money and worry.

Check the license

Delaware licenses electricians, plumbers, heating and cooling contractors and home inspectors. Ask for the license number. Then look it up on the state's license lookup.

Delaware does not license roofers or landscapers. Construction contractors register with the Department of Labor instead. You can search the state's contractor registry by name.

Get it in writing

Delaware's home improvement rules say you must get a written contract. It must show what you are buying and the price.

• All the final terms must be filled in before you are asked to sign.
• The contract must give an approximate finish date, or say clearly that it has none.
• You must be given the contractor's name, address, phone, website and email.
• If you were sold the job at your door, you must be told of your right to cancel.

Watch for pressure

A contractor may not say something is broken or dangerous when it is not. They may not pretend to be doing an official inspection to get in. They may not ask you to sign a "job complete" form before the work is done.

See checked help for your home by county.

This guide is general information, not legal, medical or financial advice.