• Plan ahead. By making your product selections ahead of time, you can avoid delays once your project has began.

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• Visit contractor's websites. A good remodeling contractor not only has a website, but ensures it is organized, well-maintained, and user friendly.

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• Check References. Ask each contractor for local references (recent projects) and find out if these customers were satisfied with the contractor's work.

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• Gauge the contractor's professional standards. First, find out if the contractor is a member of a professional organization, such as the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which has standards or a code of ethics for remodelers. Next, contact your local BBB to find out how long each company you are considering has been in business (most unsuccessful companies go out of business within the first 5 years) and if they have any complaints against them. Also, ask the contractor if they are insured. Remodeling companies are required to have liability insurance, therefore if they don't, you know they aren't a legitimate business and likely won't do legitimate work. If they don't have a copy of their General Liability Insurance, call their insurance company to verify. In addition to being insured, it is important to check with your state, county or city housing authority to make sure the contractor is properly licensed and bonded. 

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• *Be cautious when using cost as a determining factor.* It is extremely important to compare costs before making a financial commitment to any home improvement project. If you solicit more than 1 bid from prospective contractors you should discuss each one in detail with each contractor, making certain you understand the reasons for any variations in the prices. Do not automatically choose the lowest price. One contractors bid might be higher because they bid using a higher quality material or an installation method that ensures a higher quality and therefore more time. (A contractor could be the lowest bidder because he is taking shortcuts that will compromise your project and create additional work later, or he could be giving you a low-ball price to get the job and then once the project has started come up with a large number of "additions" that will add a significant amount to the final cost.)

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• Insist on a contract. The contract should include as many details as possible so you know the extent of the services your contractor is providing. Lack of detail in a contract can often be indicative of a contractor's intent to cut corners (why their bid is also often much lower in cost than others). Likewise, never pay a contractor for the entire job in advance. Most companies will ask for a deposit at the start of the job for materials, and then payments will be made as the job progresses for labor and any additional materials needed. 

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• Communicate with your contractor. Your contractor is here to make YOUR dream a reality, but they can't do that without knowing what exactly you want. Let them know what you have in mind, and work together to reach that end. But communication is never one-sided, a good contractor will always keep you informed of progress and any variations from schedule.

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• Connect Spaces. Opening walls and hallways will not only create more livable spaces, by increasing the possibility of interaction, but will also make the spaces you have feel bigger than they are. Open floor plans increase the amount of light that emanates through the house as well as maximize the airflow through the house when windows and doors are open (effective cooling method- especially is the Southwest Metro area).

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• Maximize Storage. Take areas that feel like wasted space and utilize them to your advantage. Do you like to entertain? Add a bar. Do you have lots of clutter? Add some built-ins. Do you have a room that you hardly ever use? Open it up and add it to your living space.

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*Some tips adapted from Chet Baker of Ezine Articles