How-to-hire-a-certified-pro checklist

What to do first before you hire anyone

If you suspect lead paint or asbestos, the safest first step is usually to not disturb it. Do not sand, scrape, cut, drill, break, or start demolition until the material has been properly evaluated and, when needed, tested by a certified professional.

Keep children, pets, and other household members away from the area as much as you can. If you are worried about possible lead exposure, especially for a child, contact a doctor or your local health department. Abatewell is a free matching and directory service only. We do not test, remove, or abate lead paint or asbestos, and we do not provide legal, regulatory, or medical advice.

What is in this checklist

This free checklist is designed to help you screen a contractor before you let anyone touch suspected lead paint or asbestos in your home. It gives you a practical list of questions to ask, documents to request, and warning signs to watch for.

The checklist covers the basics people often miss: whether the company has the right certification or state license, whether they will use proper containment, how waste will be handled and disposed of, whether testing will go to an accredited lab when needed, and whether the scope of work and price will be put in writing.

It also reminds you to verify credentials yourself. For lead paint work that disturbs painted surfaces in pre-1978 homes, ask about EPA Lead RRP certification. For asbestos work, ask about your state's asbestos licensing requirements, because asbestos rules are heavily regulated at the state level. The checklist is educational only, so you should still confirm current rules with your state or local authority.

Who this checklist helps

This checklist is especially helpful for homeowners, renters, landlords, and home buyers dealing with an older home, a renovation plan, damaged materials, or a real-estate sale. It is also useful for families who are new to the United States and want a plain-language way to compare providers without feeling pressured.

You do not need construction experience to use it. The goal is to help you slow down, ask clear questions, and avoid common scam or shortcut situations like unlicensed work, no containment, vague pricing, or a promise to 'just scrape it off' or 'remove it fast' without proper testing and safety steps.

If you are not sure whether your concern is lead paint, asbestos, or both, you can also start with our general hazards guide or request help finding local professionals through get matched.

How to use the checklist

Use the checklist before you sign anything and before any work starts. It works best when you compare at least two or three qualified professionals and ask each one the same questions.

1. Describe the suspected material and where it is, but do not disturb it to 'check.'
2. Ask whether testing is needed first and whether samples go to an accredited lab when applicable.
3. Ask for the company's certification or license details, including EPA Lead RRP information for pre-1978 painted surfaces and state asbestos licensing where required.
4. Verify those credentials and insurance yourself with your state, local authority, or EPA resources before hiring.
5. Ask how they will contain the work area, protect occupants, and handle cleanup and disposal.
6. Get the full scope of work, testing plan, and price in writing.
7. Do not feel rushed. If someone uses scare tactics or pressures you to sign on the spot, walk away.

If you want more background before you download it, our guides explain common terms and what certified pros usually do during testing and abatement.

What the checklist helps you verify

A good abatement or remediation hire is not just about price. It is about whether the company is legally qualified for the specific hazard and will follow the safety rules that matter: proper containment, trained workers, approved work practices, and lawful disposal.

The checklist prompts you to confirm key points such as:
- Whether the company is properly certified or licensed for the type of work
- Whether the work triggers EPA Lead RRP rules in a pre-1978 home
- Whether asbestos work is allowed only with the required state licensing
- Whether occupants need to leave part of the home during work
- Whether the contractor carries insurance
- Whether cleanup, clearance, and disposal steps are explained clearly
- Whether the company will put everything in writing

It also helps you spot red flags early. Be careful with anyone who has no proof of certification, says containment is unnecessary, suggests dry sanding or scraping suspected lead paint, offers cash-only pricing, avoids written paperwork, or tries to scare you into immediate work.

Costs, limits, and how Abatewell can help

The checklist includes space to compare estimates, but it does not set prices and it is not a quote. Real cost depends on what the material is, how much there is, where it is located, how easy it is to access, your local labor market, whether testing is needed, and the disposal requirements in your area. Small testing jobs may cost a few hundred dollars, while larger abatement projects can run into the thousands. Those are only broad ranges, not promises.

This resource is meant to help you make a safer, more informed hiring decision. It does not replace certified inspection, accredited lab testing, legal advice, regulatory advice, or medical advice. Rules vary by state and locality, so always verify current requirements yourself.

Abatewell is free for the homeowner. We are a free multilingual matching and directory service, not a contractor, testing lab, or law firm. If you want help finding licensed and certified professionals near you, you can use get matched. We collect only basic contact and project-intent details such as your name, phone, optional email, concern type, ZIP code, rough home age, and preferred language.