Employ a contractor with an established business in your local area. Local businesses can be checked through past customers and as a taxpaying member of your community.

Most states require contractors to be licensed and /or bonded. Contact your state or local licensing bureaus to ensure the contractor meets all requirements.

Check with the government Consumer Affairs Office and the Better Business Bureau to ensure that the contractor has no adverse file on record.

Ask to see a copy of the contractor's certificate of insurance. Make sure the  contractor's insurance coverage meets all the minimum state requirements.

If you elect to obtain bids from several contractors, be sure the bidding is on the  same quantity and quality of work. Beware of any bid substantially lower than the others. It probably indicates that the contractor has made a mistake or is  not including all the work quoted by his or her competitors. Choose a contractor you feel comfortable with and is well suited to the complexity of your project.

Ask for  references and follow up on the references provided. Call the references and ask specific questions to ensure your peace of mind.

Some questions to ask:

• Did the contractor start and finish the work on time?
• Was the job site kept neat, and cleaned at the end of each day?
• Would you use this contractor again without hesitation?
• Are the customers satisfied with the quality of the work?
• Ask to see the work that was performed.