“What did you say asking price is? Hmmm, well we have a friend cross-state who just had their basement waterproofed and dried out and it cost them over fifteen grand, so we’ll just lower our offer by that much for openers so we can fix basement.”

I can relate. Although finding a reliable and punctual contractor who takes pride in his or her work often seems impossible, contractors possessing these characteristics do exist. The key is knowing how and where to find them.

Here are a few easy ways (outside of using yellow pages) to find contractors who will make you want to smile at completion of job, instead of cry:

·Ask family members, friends and associates for referrals of contractors who have worked for them. People close to you are usually more than happy to give you name of someone who did excellent work for them.

·Visit your local home improvement center. Employees and customer service representatives (CSRs) may be able to refer quality contractors to you. Contractors patronize these centers regularly and sometimes leave business cards with CSRs.

·Attend local home and garden shows. These shows are packed with home improvement professionals who are eager to explain and demonstrate type of services they provide. Visit various vendor tables/booths. Retrieve information provided by professionals and use this opportunity to ask any questions you may have concerning your next project and your search for a contractor.