Tips for Finding Your Perfect Contractor

• Ask for referrals from friends, neighbors, and co-workers.
• Ask other people who have done work for you in the past such as your plumber or gardener.
• Search your local and free newspapers for contractors' ads.

Always make sure your home remodeling contractor is fully licensed with state and local governments. Make sure the license is valid and up to date—do not rely on the contractor's word. You should contact your state, county, and city governments for information on the contractor's license. The website www.contractors-license.org lists licensing requirements for all fifty states. Also make sure the contractor is fully insured and carries worker's compensation, liability, and property damage insurance.

Follow this contract checklist: Every contract should include:

• Remodeling Contractor information including name, address, telephone numbers, license number.
• A list of what the contractor will and will not do—for example, the tasks you have chosen to do, such as painting or demolition.
• All materials, sizes, colors, specifications.
• A dated copy of all drawings and diagrams. If changes need to be made during the project, they should be made to these documents and initialed and dated by both you and the contractor.
• Start and finish dates.
• The times work will start and finish and the days of the week that workers will be at your home.
• How change orders will be handled.
• A warranty for one year.
• binding arbitration clause.
• A statement of how the contract can be canceled.
• A statement that the contractor will provide affidavits of final release, final payment, or final lien waivers from all subcontractors and suppliers.