reputation & legitimacy – comfort & character – customer service & satisfaction – followup & organization – honesty & disclosure – contract & earnest deposit – trust & commuication – warnings & helpful hints

Building or remodeling your home can be a very exciting, yet trying, process. Be sure to choose a contractor you can work with and who is willing to work with you. It's worth your time to do it right the first time. The following guidelines can help you choose the right contractor for you and help you maintain a positive and successful relationship with your contractor.

Look for an established and credible contractor. Construction is turbulent industry, and many contractors come and go in their first year in business. Check the local Better Business Bureau to ensure there are no bad reports about the contractors you are considering. Make sure they have the necessary Certificate of Ownership, general liability insurance, and worker's compensation coverage. This verifies that the people you may allow into your home have established themselves as a real business. Make sure you have an office or home address and telephone number for each contractor you consider. A reputable business person is always willing to give out this information.

It is extremely important that you feel comfortable with your contractor. Call each prospective contractor for a personal interview. The service you receive up front, in terms of friendliness, promptness and willingness to work with your schedule, is indicative of the service you will receive throughout your relationship. Use the interviews to determine your level of comfort with contractors. Make certain that he will listen to your input as well as provide information freely.

Ask candidates for a list of former clients you may contact. A credible contractor will bring a list of references to your first meeting. Of course they will all be satisfied clients, but through careful questioning you can get a feel for how satisfied they really were:

· Did the contractors start and complete on time?
· Did they work every day until the project was complete?
· Did they charge for change orders on every little problem?
· Did they keep the site clean, safe, and secure?

You should also spend time examining work the contractor has done in the past, either through photos or through actual site visits, if possible.

Once you have interviewed contractors and discussed the scope of your project, take some time to consider your options. Just like any other professional, a good contractor will always follow up on your meeting with a phone call. He should be organized and ready to discuss the details of your project. He should offer to clarify any questions you may have or provide you with additional information to help you make your decision.

Don't be mislead by low-ball estimates. Some disreputable contractors give an initial estimate that undercuts the competition every time, but end up overcharging you through change orders. A professional contractor takes the necessary modifications and circumstances into account in the initial bid. Change orders are required when clients actually change their minds and want something significantly different from the agreement. Make certain that the estimate provided to you is as detailed as possible. It should list specific materials as well as outline what the homeowner is responsible for as well as the contractor’s obligations.

Since a contractors' most precious asset is his time, there are very few reputable contractors who will begin any kind of work for you without a signed contract and an earnest deposit. This is a necessary insurance for any contractor to remain successful. Your refusal to sign an agreement or pay a deposit puts the contractor in the position of having to trust you when you are not willing to trust him.

You have to establish trust early in the relationship. A good contractor will be as eager to establish a trusting, functional relationship as you are. You should feel comfortable telling your contractor what your budget constraints are and exactly how you want the house to look when the project is finished. This is a critical step to putting together a plan and a team that can work within given parameters.

Establish a clear and regular mode of communication with your contractor. In addition to a weekly or bi-weekly meeting, a communication base in the house, like a note pad or chalk board, is a good idea. This will keep you up on critical developments and ensure that your wishes are being complied with. Be sure your requests are specific and understand that there has to be give and take in the remodeling process as in any relationship. Be willing to recognize that not every idea you think of is a good one.

After the initial excitement of old walls coming down and new walls going up, it may seem as if your project has stalled. This "slow time," as it may seem, is when the detail work is being completed. Be patient and remember that it is the little things that will give you greater appreciation of the project when it's finished.

Professional contractors take pains to keep the project site clean. They may erect plastic walls around work areas, install dust-removing fans, cover vent registers and clean up daily. No matter the action taken to contain the work site, be forewarned that your house will be dusty and noisy while the project is in progress.

Problems and solutions are a normal part of the remodeling process. Working with an existing building, you can never know every detail of what is inside the walls or floor until work is in progress. Expect setbacks and do not let yourself become frustrated every time an obstacle is encountered. Most importantly, keep positive and keep the vision!