Everyone's heard the horror stories regarding contractors...right? You know the ones...they're never at the jobsite, don't return your calls, their phone is suddenly disconnected, they leave your place an absolute mess, don't keep you informed on the progress of your project, are rude, chaotic and disorganized, and sometimes vanish into thin air leaving you in an all-around bind.

To keep these problems from happening, it is important to do your research and hire someone organized. A reputable contractor is licensed, insured and will give you a list of references to choose from. If he has had any business training, this could be an excellent indicator that he will be organized and on top of things to ensure your project is well executed. In addition, a good contractor will be informative, friendly and keep you “in the know” regarding the progress of your project. If he has a website, portfolio or showroom...all the better! Another tip in choosing a contractor is to take a peek inside his vehicle – if it's clean, this is a good sign that not only does he take care of his own things, but will take care of yours, too; otherwise, I wouldn't recommend hiring him...this could be a huge red flag.

The job of the contractor requires considerable organizational knowledge and skills to keep your project moving. He has to schedule himself, his crew, and other subcontractors, make arrangements for the proper tools, machinery and building materials to be at the jobsite on a specific date and time, pull all the necessary permits to do the job so your project doesn't come to a halt, oversee the project, collect money, pay bills and troubleshoot problems that come up immediately. So, it's very important that your contractor is able to coordinate all of these things swiftly and doesn't allow anything to slide by.

Finally, make sure you're comfortable with your contractor. You should feel you're in good hands, trust his skill level, judgment and time management skills. These simple things should keep your stress level down and ensure a most favorable outcome.

Roger Perron is President of Fine Designs by Roger Perron, Inc., General Contractors, 3171 Los Feliz Blvd., Los Angeles CA, 90039 offering Architectural Design, Home Remodeling and Additions of all types, as well as Custom New Home Construction in the Los Angeles area. He can be reached at: http://www.rogerperron.com/site/contact.html.