HOW TO SELECT A
REMODELING
CONTRACTOR



                            Start your home improvement project by
                            selecting a professional, reliable
                            remodeling contractor.
Finding a qualified,
                            professional remodeling contractor need not
                            be a difficult or unpleasant task. By
                            following these basic guidelines, you will also
                            be more prepared to make an informed
                            decision that best suits your needs:

                            Employ a contractor with an established
                            business in your area.
Firms can be checked
                            through past customers. As tax paying
                            members of your community they are
                            compelled to perform satisfactory work for
                            homeowners in order for their business to
                            survive. Always be sure that you do business
                            with a company properly licensed to work in
                            your area.

                            Check the remodeling contractor with the
                            Better Business Bureau in your area to see
                            if there is an adverse record on file.
                           
                            Ask for homeowner's references and follow
                            up on them. Call the references; ask if they
                            were satisfied with all the aspects of the
                            contractor's performance. Ask to see the
                            finished projects.

                            When soliciting bids for your project, do not
                            blindly accept the lowest. Ask the contractor
                            why his price is higher or lower than another is.
                            Are all contractors planning to build the same
                            project? Often times a higher price may reflect
                            the cost of better materials and service.
                            Remember that the remodeling dollars you
                            spend represent an investment in your home.


                           *Courtesy of NARI-National Association of The Remodeling Industry