Dealing with any contractor

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As with any significant job that you hire a contractor for, talk to several. If you have any recommendations from friends etc about a good one, talk to him last.

The first one or two you talk to get right from the phone book. You can get information from them: prices, what the job includes etc., without ever intending to hire them (unless they make a real good impression). Then you can talk more intelligently to the one who comes recommended that you may actually hire.

Dont worry about hourly costs, get the price by the job. Have the price and the scope of the work to be done in writing, make sure it includes cleanup and restoration of disturbed areas (i.e. lawns) and fair payment terms. The scope should include what is included, but also what is not included that may cost extra. Perhaps something like how much a new pier costs if one is so shot it crumbles once the work starts.

Any good contractor will provide this written, its virtually a form letter to them. It usually starts as an estimate that becomes the contract once you sign it.