Tim's Soapbox: This section will give the homeowner help with the process of choosing a contractor. Resources to help you to know your rights and resources to help protect you from unscrupulous and substandard contractors and the work they do (or don't do in some cases).

WHEN SELECTING A CONTRACTOR: Remember that the lowest price does not mean the best job. Interview at least 3 contractors for the job you are considering having done. You will learn things in this process and will become more comfortable talking about your job also. The more your talk about it the more clear it becomes to you and the more clear you can make it to the next contractor you interview. Price is one consideration but you will be hiring someone to do something important in your life, to your home, and you will be having that person, and most likely the people who work for them (who you will probably not interview) in your house, sometimes when you are not at home. You need to trust your contractor. Ask for references and call the people who have had work done by this person or firm. Ask them if they would call the contractor for their next job. Ask them if they had any problems with quality of work, having work done when it was scheduled to be done, having work steps completed when they were supposed to be completed. Ask if they had problems agreeing when the job was "finished" or if they were frequently asked for more money in advance or for more than agreed upon at the outset of the job when the job was finished. Do not be put off by a contractor who wants to charge you for an estimate. If that is their policy ask if the fee is included in the estimate if you choose them to do your work. It is becoming more prevalent by contractors to charge for the time they spend visiting prospective homeowners and preparing an accurate estimate. If a contractor comes highly recommended and wants to charge you for an estimate consider it part of the expense to get the best you can to do your work.

Keep notes. Take before and after pictures. Take pictures during the process. Write down conversations that are significant, with who was there, what was the date. Write down as clearly as possible what exactly you want done. Use finite terms: square feet of deck, 2X4 or 2X6 decking, treated lumber, Trex; name brand of paint, color, sheen, type (oil, latex, pigmented stain); number of lineal feet of new wall and demolished wall, how many and what type of door (solid, hollow core, flush or panels? finish type, manufacturer and style of lockset hardware); name brand of cabinets, door and drawer style and hardware, wood finish type and color, countertop thickness, manufacturer, name, size, color and style of sink. Who is financially and physically responsible to remove demolition and construction waste off your property? Be clear where you want materials staged/stored, workers to park, waste piles to be placed and how often you want waste taken off your property. More detail is better. Ask them if they are a registered contractor in the State? Is their bond current? Have they had claims against their license? You can be sitting there with the answers prior to asking the questions by checking with the State ahead of interview time. Tell your contractors when interviewing them prior to selecting what is most important to you. A perfect job? A job done on time on budget and on schedule? A job done on your schedule not theirs? A job done so you never have to clean up after your contractor? If your job is over $500 consider writing a contract to specify all these details including price (including or not including tax) and the schedule. If schedule is important to you offer a bonus for early completion and a penalty for late completion. Make it fair. What you pay for finishing a day early should be at least equal to what you charge for finishing a day late. If your job is over $1000 consider spending the money to have a lawyer write up a contract a for you to have on hand when you interview potential contractors. Show it to them and ask if they have a problem with a written contract. If they do, keep looking. A contractor should be willing to put into writing what they are promising verbally.

Do your homework. Check up on contractors using the resources of the State and the local building associations. Expect your experience to be satisfactory and expect your contractor to respect your wishes. Expect that there will be delays and unseen and unpredictable conditions and don't blame your contractor for acts of weather or God that they cannot control. Most good contractors will resist when their client is trying to force them to cut a corner, or speed a process when they know it will diminish the quality or longevity of the job in the long run. Respect your contractor enough to listen to what they are telling you and the reasons for what or why they are doing things the way they do. Remember, you hired them because they are better at doing this thing than you are. Use your brain and your compassion when considering what they are telling you. If it seems too out of line, take a time out and get a second opinion.

If you are having a disagreement over what is acceptable in terms of quality of work you would be well served to acquire the book Residential Construction Performance Guidelines: Homeowners Reference that was put together by the National Association of Home Builders Business Management and NAHB Remodelors Council. You should be able to expect any good contractor to honor this source of information.