(1) Always hire contractors that have all of their insurances (liability, workers’ compensation and other applicable business insurance). Request written proof and call their insurance company to verify the validity.

(2) Hiring on price alone is one of the biggest mistakes.  Some contractors may give you a low quote, but may continually request more money for change orders. The difference in quotes is craftsmanship quality, grade of materials, warranty and scope of work. If you go with the lowest quote, your project may be poorly constructed or may result in a unfinished project.

(3) Always hire a contractor with whom you can communicate and who has a permanent office address. You want an established company with an office you can go to if you ever need personal contact. Check out the address and how long they have been in the area.

(4) Require detailed, written specifications provided by each contractor in order to compare proposals fairly and accurately. This will also help to avoid confusion about exactly what is expected.

(5) Require that any representative consulting with you on your project completely understands every nuance about their products and services, product features and benefits, installation specifications, warranty information, etc. This will be of value in identifying potential issues before any work is started.

(6) Have all parties that will be involved or have an interest in the project (spouses, parents, etc.) at the initial consultations and then once the decision is made, determine the key contact person with whom the contractor will communicate. This will make the project run much more smoothly.

(7) If you have changes, be sure to get written documentation on changes and cost and time so that both you and your contractor are protected.

(8) Ask for current references and see how long it takes for your contractor to supply this information.  Contractor who are confident and proud of their work will have this information readily available.

(9) Communicate often with your contractor during the project. If you have changes, questions, concerns or complaints, communicate them. It is better to handle issues while materials, tools and labor are readily available, and it could give you the end result you desire with less cost involved.

(10) A small deposit is reasonable for custom order materials, such as custom-sized windows, as those materials will only work in the individual home. This ensures a commitment to the contractor that you will complete the project and that the contractor will not be left with a warehouse full of custom materials.