Hiring a Contractor in Illinois: Contracts, Your Rights, Red Flags

The written contract rule

The Illinois Home Repair and Remodeling Act covers repair and remodeling work on homes, including kitchens, bathrooms, plumbing fixtures, and electrical wiring. Before starting a job over $1,000, the contractor must give you a written contract or work order to sign. By law it must state:

• The total cost, including parts and materials listed in reasonable detail
• Any charge for the estimate
• The business name and address
• The contractor's home address too, if the business uses a post office box or a mail service

The Attorney General also suggests the contract include a description of the work, start and finish dates, the payment schedule, how changes will be handled, and any written guarantees. Never sign a contract with blank spaces or one you do not understand.

The Act does not cover maintenance, service, or repairs under $500. Get any price in writing anyway. A text or email that lists the work and the price is far better than a handshake.

The consumer rights pamphlet

For every home repair contract, the contractor must give you a pamphlet titled Home Repair: Know Your Consumer Rights. State law sets its exact wording. It covers scam warning signs, what a contract should say, and who to call if something goes wrong.

On a contract over $1,000, you get the pamphlet before you sign, and you and the contractor both sign and date an acknowledgment form. The contractor keeps the original and you keep a copy inside the pamphlet. The Attorney General's website has the pamphlet in English, Spanish, and Polish. If a contractor never mentions it on a big job, take that as a warning sign.

Your right to cancel

• 3 business days. If you sign a contract at your home, the pamphlet says you have 3 business days to cancel. The contractor cannot take this right away by starting work early or selling the contract to a lender.
• 15 business days if you are 65 or older. If the contractor came to your door uninvited and you signed at home, the law gives you 15 business days to cancel.
• Arbitration and jury waivers. If a contract asks you to give up a jury trial or accept binding arbitration, the contractor must point it out. You get to accept or reject each of those clauses on its own, in writing.

If you help an aging parent, look over any contract they signed in the past few weeks. The window to cancel may still be open.

Red flags to watch for

The pamphlet and the Attorney General list the same warning signs again and again. Any one of these is a reason to slow down, and two or more is a reason to say no.

• A knock on the door from someone with no local ties who offers to work far below the going price
• An offer of a free inspection from a stranger
• A claim that your home is unsafe and must be fixed right away
• Pressure to sign today, or a contract with blank spaces
• A demand for cash, or for full payment before the job is done. The Attorney General also warns against paying with apps like Venmo or Zelle.
• A request to make the check out to someone other than the owner or the company
• An offer to drive you to the bank to take out money
• Only a phone number or a post office box, with no street address
• No references or no proof of insurance when you ask

Insurance and licenses

The Act requires home repair businesses to carry liability and property damage insurance of at least $100,000 per person and $300,000 per occurrence for bodily injury, and $50,000 per occurrence for property damage. A business with a net worth of at least $1 million is excused. Ask for a certificate of insurance before work starts, and check the expiration date.

Licenses are a different story. The Illinois Attorney General says state law does not require general contractors to be licensed. Some trades do need one. The Illinois Department of Public Health licenses plumbers, and the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation licenses roofers. Electricians are licensed or registered by each town. Your village may also require permits or have other local rules, so call your building department before work starts.

Before you pay

• Pay in stages tied to finished work, and keep the down payment as small as you can.
• Before you pay, ask for a sworn statement that lists every subcontractor and supplier. Get lien waivers from them. The Attorney General warns that a subcontractor who is not paid can put a lien on your home even if you paid your contractor in full.
• Do not sign a certificate of completion or make the final payment until the work is done the way you agreed.

If something goes wrong, try to settle it with the contractor first. Follow any phone call with a letter sent by certified mail, and keep a copy. If that fails, file a complaint with the Illinois Attorney General or your county State's Attorney.

Small jobs, big jobs, and where we fit

Many jobs on this site cost less than $1,000, like a honey do list at about $200 to $500 for a half day. Some cost more. Install kitchen cabinets typically runs $2,200 to $4,800 in labor, and a walk in shower conversion runs $4,000 to $9,500. On jobs like those, expect a written contract and the pamphlet.

If you are arranging work for a parent who lives alone, plan to be there for the first visit or on the phone during it. Read the contract together before anyone signs. Every pro we send is insured and background checked, and licensed where Illinois or your town requires it. Read how we vet pros, then send a request. One vetted local pro calls you back. You pay the pro for the work, and you never pay this site.