When planning a home renovation or any type of home improvement, the most critical step is in the initial selection of the contractor.

There are many different methods of researching the right contractor, including the following :

Referrals

Referrals from family member or neighbors are not necessarily the best way to pick your contractor. While there is value in a nice referral, what was right for one family or individual may not be the right choice for you.

Contractor Rating Systems

The new fad today in this realm is to rate contractors online or in magazines. Contractor ratings have to be taken with a grain of salt. Many of the ratings are outdated or written spitefully. It is just as easy for an excellent contractor to get a bad rating as it is for a bad contractor to get a good rating. Ask yourself who is behind the rating, and whether it could be an advertisement. It’s worth noting whether it’s people who are happy with their renovation writing in the forum or if it’s mainly unhappy people.

Research, research, research

Researching is still the best way to select your contractor. Each individual given this task should carefully interview each contractor, look at his/her portfolio, make sure proper insurance and warranties are in place and then make an educated decision.

A good place to start is, naturally, http://www.homerenovationguide.com.