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It's a fact of homeownership: Contractors are a necessity in maintaining a home and retaining or increasing its value. Weather, age, insects, and animals all wreak havoc on domiciles. Wind and rain ruin roofs and siding. Plumbing backs up, foundations settle, and windows leak. Worse, termites eat framing and bees colonize in attics. Not to mention the pesky snakes and mice who nest in and around homes. With all these factors working against a residence, home improvement and remodeling is not only a necessity, but an industry.

When the job is too big to handle alone, it is time to contact contractors and begin the bid process. Google, phone books, social networking, and word of mouth are all excellent sources for finding the right help. But due diligence is in order. No one wants to be scammed or victimize by shoddy workmanship, so it is wise to have at least five companies visit your property and submit bids for comparison. If you are female and the contractor asks you if there is a "mister" at home, consider hanging up the phone. You don't need a chauvinist, you need a specialist. Is there a website? Does the contractor provide references? What does the BBB say about each outfit? What warranties and guarantees are given, and is it stated in writing?

Contractors should listen to you, take notes, and be transparent in their dealings with you. Roofers, for instance, should be able to tell you the number and spacing of nails in shingles. You should have a choice of a 20 or 30-year roof. And they should spell out extraneous costs, such as trim work and gutters. You should get a time line for work begun and finished. Never, ever, pay in full. Always pay a portion to get your contractor started - 25% should do it - and the balance upon completion. Does your contractor give a discount for cash payments? If so, great! But all warranties should still apply and your job must documented in writing. Get a receipt for every payment you make.

And don't forget your insurance company. Does your homeowners policy cover foundation claims? If so, use your coverage and notify your agent in writing that you want your foundation inspected by a structural engineer. Water damage and extraneous damage may also be covered, but you won't know unless you ask. Some insurance companies are great on the sales end but quite evasive on the claims end, so be persistent and pesky. There is no shame in being a consumer who knows the value of a dollar, right?

Phone numbers, business cards, websites, high marks for service, free estimates and formal quotes are not too much to ask of your prospective professional contractor.

Learn more about this author, Melanie Saxton.
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