Whether you use our matching service or find a contractor another way, here's what's worth verifying before you sign anything.
Confirm the contractor holds an active license through the Nevada State Contractors Board (NSCB) with a classification that actually covers the scope of your project (earthwork/grading and underground utility classifications are distinct from general building classifications). A license lookup takes a few minutes and can save you from a costly mismatch.
Ask for a current certificate of insurance showing general liability coverage and workers' compensation (required for contractors with employees in Nevada). This protects you if there's property damage or a jobsite injury.
Nevada-licensed contractors are generally required to carry a contractor's bond. Ask to see proof and understand what it covers.
Ask for examples of similar earthwork or utility projects completed in the Las Vegas Valley in the last couple of years — not just experience in general, but experience with local soil conditions and the specific jurisdiction and utility district your project falls under.
Request contact information for at least two or three recent clients with comparable project scope, and actually call them. Ask about schedule adherence, change-order frequency, and communication — not just whether the work was done.
A trustworthy bid breaks out scope clearly: mobilization, clearing, excavation/haul-off (and where excess material goes), each utility line item, testing, and backfill/compaction. Vague, single-line bids make it hard to compare apples to apples and often hide exclusions.
Ask whether the contractor uses their own equipment and crews or relies heavily on rented equipment and subcontracted labor for key scopes — this affects both quality control and schedule reliability.
Ask about their safety program and whether they've had any OSHA citations. Earthwork and trenching are among the higher-risk construction activities, and a contractor's safety culture affects your liability exposure too.
Ask who your day-to-day point of contact will be, how often you'll get updates, and how change orders are handled and approved. Clear communication expectations up front prevent a lot of frustration later.
Never proceed on a handshake for this scale of work. The contract should specify scope of work, schedule/milestones, payment schedule tied to progress (not large upfront payments), and how change orders are priced and approved.
We check licensing, insurance, and reputation before we'll refer a contractor to a property owner — see our About & Trust page for our vetting criteria. That said, we still recommend you verify these items yourself before signing any contract.