by H. Graciela Dyer

Created on: February 05, 2009   Last Updated: February 14, 2009

We've all heard about construction calamities and home improvement nightmares that begin with optimism and end in tears. It's these stories that highlight the negatives and foster the illusion that the goal of every contractor is to defraud and disappoint an unwary public. By taking control of your remodeling project from the outset, you stand a good chance of finding a contractor who inspires confidence and delivers your project on time and on budget.

Renovation without frustration can be achieved by following a few simple guidelines, and by remembering that cutting corners will inevitably result in small but eternally irritating flaws in a much-used part of the house, where they will haunt you for ever.

The main factors to consider before you begin to look for a contractor are:
i. budget
ii. time frame for completion
iii. your expectations of the quality of the work

Remember the Golden Rule of Remodeling and Home Improvement: you can have it fast, cheap or good, but not all three. Pick the two that most appeal to you and you're ready to begin your search.

How do you find a reputable contractor? The most obvious answer is to ask people within your social network who have undertaken recent remodeling projects. Look at the work they've had done and discuss the good, the bad and the ugly aspects of their experience. Learning from others is the best way to avoid your own costly and undoable mistakes.

Get three names of people with the skills you require through personal referrals, from websites that offers customer reviews of contractors of all kinds, or from the Yellow Pages phone book.

Set up times to meet and discuss the work. Ask each contractor to being references and, where possible, portfolios of recent work. It's a good idea to prepare a written description of the project for each interviewee, specifying dimensions and the materials to be used. This avoids misunderstandings and confusion when it comes to comparing quotes.

Remember that this person (or team) will be inhabiting your private space for a period of time, so it's essential that you feel comfortable with them, and that they feel trusted. With a combination of planning and intuition, you'll be guaranteed a happy ending to your own construction story.

Learn more about this author, H. Graciela Dyer.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.