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Plan the lift around the boat and the structure
A boat lift has to work with the boat, the slip, and the structure supporting it. That makes the site visit important. Tell the contractor what boat you have now and whether you expect that to change. If the lift is going inside a boathouse, the lift and boathouse should be planned together.
The practical questions include where the lift sits, how the boat enters the slip, how people board, and how the lift relates to the dock or boathouse. The contractor can look at the existing structure if there is one and explain what work they propose.
Electrical work has a specific TRA requirement
If a boat lift uses electrical power, the electrical work must meet the National Electrical Code and be done by a TDLR-licensed electrical contractor, according to TRA's published shoreline application. The electrician's name and license number go on the application.
The same rule matters when a boathouse project includes lights, outlets, or other electrical work. Ask who is handling the electrical scope and make sure the licensed electrical contractor is identified before that part of the work begins.
New lift, existing dock
Adding a lift to an existing structure starts with finding out whether the current dock or boathouse fits the proposed project. A marine contractor can inspect what is there and explain whether additional structural work is part of the scope. Do not assume a lift is a bolt-on accessory that is independent of the structure around it.
If the project changes or adds improvements on Lake Livingston Project lands, the TRA permit process should be addressed before construction. The permit must be recorded in the county deed records before work starts.
Building the whole setup at once
If you are planning a new boathouse, pier, and lift together, that gives the contractor one opportunity to coordinate the layout. The permit drawings can reflect the proposed improvements as a package, and the electrical contractor information can be included when electrical work is part of the application.
Ask for a written estimate that separates the major parts of the job so you understand what is included: structure, lift equipment, installation, electrical work, permit drawings, application handling, and any shoreline work connected to the project.