Choosing a contractor is the single biggest decision in a build — bigger than picking the plot, bigger than picking the architect. Get it right and the project stays on time and on budget. Get it wrong and you pay for the mistake twice: once in the original work, once in the rework.
Here is the short checklist we wish every client started with.
1. Check NCA registration first
The National Construction Authority registers contractors by category (NCA 1 through NCA 8) — the lower the number, the larger the project the contractor is licensed to handle. Ask for the certificate and verify the number on the NCA portal (nca.go.ke). An unregistered contractor on a sizeable build is a red flag, not a discount.
2. Insist on a written, itemised quote
A serious contractor will give you a quote with line items for materials, labour, timeline, and a contingency. A scribbled total on a notebook is not a quote. The itemisation is your protection: when something gets added or removed mid-build, you have a baseline to compare against.
3. Ask for three references — and call them
Photos of completed work are necessary but not sufficient. Ask for three previous clients, get their phone numbers, and call them. Two questions are enough: "Did the project finish on time?" and "Would you hire them again?"
4. Check insurance
Workers' compensation and public liability are minimum. If anyone is injured on your site and the contractor does not have workers' comp, you may end up paying.
5. Watch for the cheap-quote trap
If three contractors quote you KSh 8M, KSh 8.5M, and KSh 5M, the KSh 5M quote is not a good deal — it is a warning. Either materials are wrong, scope is missing, or the contractor is planning to negotiate up later. Cheap quotes win contracts and lose projects.
If you would like to chat through your build with us — no obligation — message us on WhatsApp.