Start with the scope, not the price
The most common reason two estimates look wildly different is that they describe two different jobs. One may include removing and disposing of old material, priming, and trim work; the other may assume you handle all of that.
Before comparing numbers, write down exactly what you want done. Then ask each contractor to price that same list. A lower number that leaves out half the work is not a better deal.
Ask how the project will actually run
Who will be in your home each day? How will dust be controlled? What happens when something unexpected turns up behind a wall? These answers tell you more about a contractor than a glossy brochure does.
Clear communication before the job usually predicts clear communication during it.
Verify what you're told
In Virginia, contractor licensing is handled by the Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation (DPOR), and license status can be looked up online. If a business tells you it is licensed or insured, ask for the details and confirm them yourself.
This is standard practice, not an insult. Any professional will expect it.
Get it in writing
A written estimate should describe the scope of work, what's included, what isn't, and how changes will be handled if the scope shifts mid-project.
Verbal agreements are where most home improvement disputes begin.