Before You Hire

To achieve a happy relationship and professional results, follow the steps outlined below to find and hire a pro:

Get the names of several contractors by asking friends for recommendations. Take a look at examples of their work to see if it meets your expectations.

Get rough estimates from all contractors who interest you. It will help you narrow the field of candidates and judge how candid they are about money matters.

For a major job, get at least three bids. Give a contractor about three weeks to produce the bid. Read the bids closely; they should detail the materials that will be used. If one contractor is much lower than the others, check to make sure he or she is truly capable and experienced.

When accepting bids, find out how long the contractor has been in business -- the longer the better. Ask who finances the contractor's company (usually it's a bank). Ask the bank about the contractor's general solvency. You don't want a contractor to go bankrupt in the middle of your project.

Determine whether the contractor carries insurance. Every contractor's insurance should cover property damage, liability, and workers' compensation. If the contractor is not covered, you could be liable for hefty fees in case of an accident.