Few of us can actually Do It Ourselves, without any help at all. Even the most inveterate handyman has called in an architect or a plumber at some point.

When it's your turn to make that call, how will you know that you've found the remodeling professional best suited to work on your project? How will you know that the expert you've selected is qualified, experienced, ethical, financially stable, and offers their work for a reasonable price? You need a strategy for determining they're right for you before they begin work and you find out they aren't.

Ask Other Professionals

The most effective way to find great remodeling professionals is to solicit the opinions of other professionals who use the kind of person you're looking for on a regular basis. For example, if you're looking for a good residential remodeling contractor, ask bankers that make home equity loans: they inspect the work of dozens of contractors in your neighborhood every year and can tell you who has performed well and who hasn't. Call the local chapter of the National Home Builders Association's and ask someone in their Remodeling Council which of their members have been awarded or nominated for awards for their work in the last two or three years. Call residential designers: they work with lots of different contractors and, like the bankers, will be able to compare the work they see and recommend the best. If you're looking for a designer, find other professionals who work with lots of different designers and ask for referrals. Use this strategy for any professional consultant you may need to hire.

Look For a History of Related Experience

Your odds of ending up with exactly what you want increase with the number of times your remodeling consultant or contractor has done exactly what you are about to ask him or her to do for you. If you hire a brain surgeon to design a roof repair for you, you probably won't like the result. They have never repaired a roof before and they are bound to make mistakes. The first thing you need to consider, then, is whether the consultant or contractor has lots and lots of experience doing exactly what you are about to ask them to do for you.

Now focus on the details of the job. Suppose you were talking to the best roof repair contractor in the business. He tells you that he's worked on thousands of roofs in your town. But your project requires knowledge of the repair of historic slate roofs. Has he ever repaired one like that? If not, his experience will not be relevant to your needs. He's not the right one.

Check References

Ask your prospective consultant for references, and call them. Many homeowners are shy about calling strangers to ask about the nature of their relationship with a third party consultant. Some homeowners say they trust their gut and don't want to waste the time. Here is an effective way to minimize the time you spend and the number of people you call.

Ask your consultant or contractor for a list of not less than six references. Then call reference number six first. You can be pretty sure that the first name on the list will give you a glowing report. That's why they're first on the list. Call the last client on the list and see what they have to say. If they give you a rave review, you can be reasonably sure that the others will too.

Interviewing is an art. Most folks are reluctant to say anything bad about a contractor or a designer they've worked with, even if they don't feel they had a successful relationship or didn't get what they wanted, so listen for hints.

Ask open questions -- questions that cannot be answered by a yes or a no. For example, don't ask "Did you like his work," ask "What sort of work did he do for you?" Instead of asking "Would you recommend him to a friend," ask "What was the nature of your relationship? How did he manage his crew?"

You may ask about how the contractor handled a warranty call, and the homeowner may say that the contractor came back after a few weeks and looked at the problem. Did he fix the problem? How long did it take him to fix the problem? Was the homeowner happy with the final repair? Are there other repairs outstanding? Jump through these open doors and ask lots of questions.

Listen to Your Little Voice

Chemistry (trust) between you and your consultant or contractor will account for about 30% of the success of your job. If you feel you can speak frankly to him or her without offending them, you'll develop an open, conversational relationship that will help keep your job on track. So even if you've found the professional with perfect credentials, if he or she makes your skin crawl, don't hire them. Trust your instincts on this count.

Negotiate a Good Contract

Carefully review the remodeling contract they offer you.

Look for phrases that translate into "I'm not responsible for anything you don't tell me." These phrases transfer liability for their mistakes to you.

Watch out for specific omissions in the scope of work; phrases that say something like "Inspector is not responsible for assessing anything he can't see from the ground." The home inspector, in this example, ought to get up on the roof and get up above your ceiling to look at it's underside too … give it a thorough inspection … before they write a repair scope of work. Nothing should be omitted just because they weren't thorough.

If you're hiring a contractor, be sure they agree not only to carry insurance, but to include you as "additional insured" on the policy, and to provide you with a certificate that shows what their policy is worth. Ask them to carry a minimum of twice the value of your home in combined general liability insurance.

Before you execute a contract for services, set a construction schedule -- both the start and the finish date -- and include a statement about the schedule in the contract.

More Information

You’ll find lots more information about finding great professional help in Chapter 1: Managing a Renovation: Staying in Charge and Out of Trouble, our friendly and comprehensive guide to remodeling management. Download the table of contents and a sample chapter, or order it now.

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