Home Renovation:
Finding the Right Help
Contracting for home improvement can be tricky

emodeling your home is never as easy as you'd planned. But with the right professional help, you can minimize the inevitable headaches.
Whether you're looking for a general contractor or someone to zone in on one key area, the person you hire should be someone you can trust with your family and with your most valuable asset: your home. Realize that these people (the contractor and his crews) may be wandering around in your home before you've even dressed for the day. Here's how to find the right person for the job.

Establish a preliminary budget. This figure will be revised-probably upwards-before you sign a contract, but you shouldn't waste a contractor's time if you're not reasonably sure you can afford the project. Look at your savings account and, if necessary, contact your credit union for advice on qualifying for a home improvement loan.

Define the project. Make two lists: the basics and the upgrades. Start with the basics, i.e., a new bathroom on the second floor, 8 by 10 feet, with a tub, shower, toilet and sink. Do you want a vanity cabinet? Linen storage? Windows? Once you've put this list on paper, make a list of upgrades you'll consider based on cost. This is the list that includes the whirlpool tub, custom tilework and countertops.

To hire a design professional, or not. For small projects, a contractor who's handled similar improvements can advise you on design. But you'll be placing a lot of trust in his or her judgment, and it's unlikely that a contractor would be willing to invest a lot of time in such counseling before you've signed a contract. Instead of bids based on detailed plans drawn by an architect or designer, you'll get an estimate of what the job will probably cost. To get design help at little or no cost, consider consulting home improvement superstores like Lowe's or Home Depot. Both stores have skilled designers on staff to help you make your dream a reality.

Whatever route you decide to take, if you have a design plan in your head, be clear about it. The more complete and specific your plans, the more accurate the estimates, and the happier you'll be with the finished work. Jason Yowell, president of Metropolitan Design & Construction in Atlanta, says, "The most successful jobs come with demanding clients-people who know exactly what they want."

Build a referral list. Neighbors, friends and workmates are good sources for referrals or tales of woe, which should be heeded. Note signs posted at houses under renovation. Request a list of local members from the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (www.nari.org), whose members pledge to honor a code of professional ethics. Your lumberyard or home improvement center will have a good idea who's working steadily and who pays bills on time. Check each firm with the Better Business Bureau.

Interview prospects by telephone. Describe your project and ask if the firm would be interested in bidding (your job might be too big or too small). Find out if there's a waiting list. A successful contractor may be unavailable for several months but may be worth the wait. In fact, a long waiting time can indicate a work ethic that is reliable, meticulous and organized. An overly available contractor may be guilty of scheduling too many jobs at once, or worse, may have a cash flow problem that he or she hopes to correct with your down payment.

Get to know the contenders. Try to meet the contractor at a job site to observe how he or she approaches the work. If the site is a mess, the contractor shows up late or you witness disgruntled workers or homeowners, you should hear warning bells. If you meet at your own home, be sure to follow up with at least one visit to a job in progress. Ask for client referrals and follow up with phone calls. Even satisfied clients will share the negatives if probed carefully.

Compare bids. The magic number for how many bids you should get on a project tends to be three. Do not ask for a bid unless you are genuinely impressed with the contractor and seriously interested in hiring him or her. Bidding forms vary, so scrutinize every line to see which areas need greater clarity before the offers are comparable-which they must be in order for you to evaluate the numbers. Reject offers that lump work and material together without detail. Wildly different prices should prompt you to ask for explanation. The payment schedule, work timeline and process for handling unexpected changes should be clearly stated.

Select your contractor. Price is just one part of the decision, and a higher price is no guarantee that you'll work well with a particular contractor. With that in mind, give careful consideration to the factors you can't easily measure: Is he or she friendly? Do you both communicate well? Choose the candidate who seems most willing to meet your standards, whose workman-ship is clearly superior and who has the patience to explain his or her pricing structure to your satisfaction. Remember that you're not hiring a best friend, but a professional who will take responsibility for getting the work done correctly and efficiently.