NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Our home in Palm Beach County was buffeted by two of this season's hurricanes – Hurricane Frances (slow moving, maddening and big as the state of Texas) and Jeanne (the REALLY bad one).

To give you some idea of the power of Mother Nature, the 125 MPH winds from Jeanne were so strong that the rain was blown through (not under) our solid wood front door!

Now compared to many other folks impacted by this rash of hurricanes, we were very, very, lucky. We lost some trees ... some roof tiles ... a chimney cover and power for 10, that's right, TEN days! Minor damage ultimately, but we still need someone who can help us make our home right.

Sometimes, however, working with contractors is worse than a natural disaster!

If the workmen do shoddy work, overcharge, or never finish the job, the result can be a nightmare. So as we begin the clean-up process, we thought we'd share the do's and don'ts of working with a home contractor so you can save yourself any headaches -- and maybe even a buck or two -- next time you need to find one.

Americans will spend more than $200 billion this year on home improvements and home repairs. Home improvements can disrupt your world and make life miserable! But...the results can be well worth the trouble.

A well-done improvement can bring enjoyment and add value to your home for years to come.

We called our friend Tom Kraeutler, host of America's best home improvement radio show, The Money Pit (don't miss this show...check your local radio listings) for some guidance. Let's start with the "do's" to help you get your money's worth with minimum hassle »»