What Questions Should I Ask Before Hiring an Engineer?
Ask: Are you licensed in my state? Have you done this exact project type in my jurisdiction? What is included in your fee versus extra? Who stamps the drawings? What is your plan-check correction process? The answers reveal licensing validity, relevant experience, fee transparency, and accountability — the four things that separate smooth projects from expensive ones.
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Licensing and experience
Verify the PE license is active in your state through the board's online lookup — it takes two minutes and is non-negotiable. Then ask for project experience in your city specifically: plan checkers, soils, and code interpretations vary enormously by jurisdiction, and an engineer who has permitted in your city before will move twice as fast. Ask for references from similar projects, not just a client list.
Fee structure and scope
Get the scope in writing: does the fee include plan-check corrections, construction observation, special inspections coordination, and as-built updates? What triggers additional fees — and at what rates? The cheapest proposal is often the one with the narrowest scope; compare scopes, not just totals. Ask how change orders are priced before you need one.
Process and accountability
Who is your day-to-day contact, and who actually stamps the drawings — the person you meet or someone you never see? What is the correction turnaround commitment? How are RFIs handled during construction? A firm that answers these crisply has a real process; vague answers predict vague delivery. And confirm professional liability insurance — reputable firms carry it and say so plainly.
The bottom line
Verify the state license, demand same-city experience, compare written scopes (not just fees), and confirm who stamps and who answers RFIs. Process answers predict project outcomes.
Torch Engineering PLLC · (480) 490-0064 · info@torchengineering.com — PE stamping backed by Apex Grid Engineering.