You may be thinking, oh well, none of those stories relate to me. I’m going to have a custom home built by contractors who were referred to me or who have a beautiful portfolio.
You are off to a good start but if you truly want a great job for a good value dig a little deeper to look for clues about their integrity. This tough economy is bringing out the worst in some people.
What can you do to protect yourself? Do your homework and trust your instincts. Don’t hire someone so desperate for work that they will say and do anything to get the job.
Involve your contractor in the planning and design phase; expect to pay something for this service. It will be a bargain in the long run. You will also get to know your contractor through this preliminary process.