Check licensing and registration first

In Rwanda, construction contracting is regulated. Verify that your contractor holds a valid business registration and, for larger or structural work, the relevant professional licensing. Registered architects and engineers are attached to the Institute of Rwandan Architects (IRA) and the Rwanda Institution of Engineers (RIE), and their sign-off is what makes a building legally certifyable.

Ask for the company's TIN and business license up front, and confirm the named professionals who will sign off on your project's design and structural certifications.

Review a real portfolio and references

A convincing website is not a track record. Ask to see completed projects of a similar size and type to yours, and request contact details for recent clients. A reputable contractor will happily put you in touch with past clients who can speak to schedule adherence, budget control, and workmanship.

For larger projects, visit an active site to observe organisation, safety practices, and how trades and materials are managed day to day.

Get everything in a written contract

Never start on a handshake. A proper contract should state the scope of work, materials specification, timeline with milestones, and the exact price or pricing formula. It should also define how change orders — the single biggest source of building disputes — are agreed and priced.

Include a clear payment schedule tied to milestones rather than lump sums paid in advance. Most dispute in construction comes from unclear scope and unclear payment terms, so nail both down in writing.

Confirm insurance and safety

Your contractor should carry insurance that covers the worksite and workers. Confirm what is covered and what is not, and verify that the site will be run safely — proper scaffolding for masonry and plastering, and correct storage of materials such as cement (kept dry and off the ground) and rebar (stored straight to avoid rust and injury).

A contractor who treats safety and material storage casually is a risk on cost and on your liability.

Agree on communication and delivery

Establish a clear channel for reporting progress — weekly updates, a shared schedule, or a site meeting. You should always know what is happening at your project and who to call when something changes.

One practical tip: work with a partner who can also supply materials. When a general contractor sources cement, steel, timber, and fittings through the same supply chain that they build with, you get coordinated delivery schedules and fewer excuses when materials run late.