Not good signs.

The license number should be all over their contract, website, etc. When you het it check the state website and look for complaints. Ask for the insurance info. Call up the company to see if the policy is in force.

Ask for a list of references. And call them all!

But really, it sounds like you should just walk away from this.

Who owns the land? Is it an expensive semi custom or a spec house in an expensive development? Or do you own the land and are trying to find a builder for the house you want? Either way, you should probably not deal with this builder BUT you would have more leverage if you owned the land. Alternatives are to find another builder if you own thr land or find another development if they own it.

I wouldn't commit myself without that very basic info though. Even if they were the only builder in town.

Is the contractor refusing to work with any atty you retain, or just this particular one? Why? Until you know that you don’t know whether you’ve got a contractor problem or an attorney problem.

A "very expensive house" infers to me beyond the standard middle-America, even expensive house. So a contractor experienced in these should be pretty sophisticated, with insurance, schedule of values, and waivers ready to provide and workability with owner's attorneys, field reps, and interior designers secondhand nature. Your attorney will positively suggest changes, that is what they have to do for their fee, and the G.C. may think they will be firm with no wiggle room (and striking his new escalation clause). So maybe that should be an exclusive discussion between the attorney and you first, then go to the G.C. with verbage or points for your protection in the process.

Normally, I take my trusted lawyer's advice. And when I was a licensed homebuilder and renovator, I had no objections to contracts being vetted by the other party's solicitor.

Walk on by. Walk on by.

As has been pointed out above, a respected general contractor will not have an issue providing his license number + providing insurance information for you to comfim. Some jursidictions require a contractor to provide both - if you want to share your location, I will let you know what’s required in the contract.

Also, if this is a custom home, a contractor should expect that you will have an attorney involved. What are the GC’s objections re: your attorney?

It is perfectly reasonable to ask for a copy of your contractor's state contractor's license and insurance. If they are reluctant to provide them, it is indeed cause for concern. Ditto for review of their contract by your attorney.

It depends upon your state's contracting law. I'm required to put my Florida license number on my trucks and business cards. Even T-shirts; any advertising.

I am in Wisconsin and .. it looks like a contractor does not have to be licensed in my State (?)

Contractor licenses are issued through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. In order to pull permits to do work on one- or two- family homes, you need both the dwelling contractor certification for the business, and at least one person from the company needs a dwelling contractor certification.

https://www.wisbuild.org › licensing...

Licensing Requirements — Wisconsin Builders Association