How to Choose a Contractor in the Philippines — 7 Questions Every Homeowner Must Ask
Choosing the wrong contractor is the single most expensive mistake a homeowner can make in the Philippines. Abandoned projects, poor workmanship, inflated change orders, and missing materials are not rare — they're the daily reality for thousands of Filipino homeowners who skipped due diligence.
The good news: most contractor disasters are preventable. These 7 questions, asked before you sign anything, will separate serious contractors from those who will cause you grief.
A well-designed, well-built home is the result of the right contractor — not just the right design. Choosing who builds is as important as choosing what to build.
Never choose a contractor based on price alone. The cheapest quote is usually cheap for a reason — underpriced labor, inferior materials, or a contractor who plans to recover margin through change orders. Compare scope, not just numbers.
The 7 Questions to Ask Every Contractor
Are you PCAB-licensed and can I see your current license?
The Philippine Contractors Accreditation Board (PCAB) licenses contractors by category — from Small B (small residential) to AAA (large infrastructure). A PCAB license confirms the contractor is legally registered, financially capable for their category, and has qualified technical staff.
Ask for the license and verify it at the PCAB registry. An unlicensed contractor cannot legally build in the Philippines, and you have limited legal recourse if things go wrong.
Can you show me 3 completed projects I can visit or inspect?
Past work doesn't lie. Visit completed projects and look for: straight walls (use a level), flat tile work, clean electrical panel installation, tight door and window fits, and proper caulking and waterproofing details. Talk to past clients if possible — ask about their payment experience, site management, and whether the project finished on time.
A contractor who cannot show recent, verifiable completed work is a serious risk regardless of how polished their sales pitch is.
Who will be on site every day — and what are their qualifications?
Many contractors win projects and then delegate to an unqualified foreman who has never managed a project of that scale. Ask specifically: who is the site foreman? What is their experience? Will a licensed engineer or architect visit the site regularly? How often?
For a two-storey or larger project, a licensed civil engineer should be present for all critical pours — foundation, columns, and slabs. Not just for photo documentation, but as an active quality inspector.
Is your quote based on complete drawings and a Bill of Quantities?
A quote without drawings is not a quote — it's a guess. If a contractor gives you a lump-sum price without complete architectural and structural drawings and a detailed Bill of Quantities (BOQ), that price will change. Guaranteed.
A proper BOQ lists every material by quantity and unit cost: bags of cement, lengths of rebar, sheets of plywood, tile area, paint volume. It's the only way to hold a contractor accountable for what was agreed.
What is your payment schedule — and is it tied to milestones?
Payment should follow construction progress, not calendar dates. A milestone-based payment schedule protects you: you pay when work is done and inspected, not on the 15th of every month regardless of site activity.
A standard Philippine residential construction payment schedule:
Never release a payment before the milestone is independently verified.
How do you handle change orders — and what is the procedure?
Changes during construction are expensive. But the real danger is a contractor who makes changes without written approval and then bills you at project end. Every change — no matter how small — should follow a written Change Order: what changed, why, how much it adds or deducts, and both parties' signatures before work proceeds.
If a contractor resists a formal change order process, that tells you everything about how disputes will be handled later.
What warranty do you provide after turnover?
Under Philippine law, contractors carry a defect liability period. The Civil Code provides a 10-year liability for structural defects, and typically 1 year for workmanship defects. Ask your contractor: what specifically do they warrant, for how long, and what is the process for reporting and resolving defects after turnover?
A contractor confident in their work will have no issue committing to a clear warranty. One who dodges the question is telling you something.
Red Flags — Walk Away Immediately If You See These
- Requests more than 30% down payment before any work starts
- Cannot provide a written, itemized quotation
- Has no completed projects you can physically inspect
- No PCAB license, or license is expired / out of category
- Insists on a verbal agreement with no written contract
- Prices significantly lower than all other quotes (20%+ below average)
- Cannot name the structural engineer who will sign the drawings
- Resists including a penalty clause for project delays
- Asks you to buy all materials directly so they only charge labor — then manages the purchases anyway
- No formal site office or on-site presence — everything is managed remotely
What a Good Contract Must Include
| Contract Element | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Complete scope of work | Prevents disputes about what was "included" |
| Approved drawings attached | Drawings define what is built — not verbal descriptions |
| Materials specifications | Prevents substitution of inferior materials |
| Milestone payment schedule | Protects your cash — pay for work done, not time passed |
| Project timeline and completion date | Required for the penalty clause to apply |
| Penalty for delays | Creates accountability — typically ₱500–₱2,000/day delay |
| Change order procedure | All changes written and signed before execution |
| Defect liability period | Defines the contractor's post-turnover obligations |
| Dispute resolution clause | Mediation before litigation — saves time and money |
Monitor Your Construction Site Remotely
AEDO's PhotoStruct app lets you document construction progress with GPS-stamped, timestamped site photos — organized by project and stage. Perfect for homeowners and project managers who can't be on site every day but need reliable progress documentation.
Skip the Contractor Search — Work with AEDO
AEDO Construction is a licensed design-build firm that handles your entire project: architectural design, structural engineering, permit processing, and construction — under one contract with full transparency. No subcontractor shuffle. No mystery change orders. No abandoned sites.
- PCAB-licensed, engineer-led construction team
- Complete drawings and BOQ before you sign anything
- Milestone-based payment schedule — always
- On-site engineer presence at all critical stages
- Formal written change order process
- 12-month defect liability, 10-year structural warranty per law