For many home owners, remodeling or even a simple addition of a room is a big jump into the unknown. One of the biggest hurdles is the quest for a reliable remodeling contractor. Everyone has heard horror stories of contractors failing to show up, doing sloppy work and driving the costs up.  There are a couple of things that you can do to save yourself a lot of headaches and monetary loss. The following are some of the steps that you can take while hiring the contractor and while the job is being done:

Ask Around
Never pick a name from the local directory. Your best sources for reliable remodeling contractors are your neighbors and friends. Their first hand experiences are very valuable for selecting a contractor. The local hardware and building supplies stores are also good bets. They have regular dealings with various contractors and could recommend an honest remodeling contractor. This way you will have a small list of remodeling contractors with good reputation.
Ask for References
References are a handy tool to judge the quality of work and reputation. A remodeling contractor who is honest and proud of his work will offer them without a second thought. Call the reference up and ask about the work done. If possible, visit the worksite and see the work done for yourself.
Get More Than One Quote
Even when you have selected a contractor, invite at least three contractors to evaluate your home and quote their price. This will ensure that you have a fair idea of all the costs involved. Make sure that labor and material costs are mentioned separately. A good remodeling contractor will also include other fees that they could charge.
Get a Contract in Writing
Once you have decided upon a contractor and accepted his quote, get a contract in writing. This is a legal document that details all the work that needs to be done and approximations of time and money involved. Many remodeling contractors offer a contract that includes these details.

Permits are a real Necessity
Most of the work, electrical, plumbing and masonry needs permits from the local authorities. A dishonest remodeling contractor will downplay the importance of a permit. If this is the case, insists on one anyway or replace the contractor. When a permit is in place, the local building inspectors periodically visit the worksite and evaluate the quality and compliance of the work done.
Watch the Work Done
The best method of evaluating a remodeling contractor’s performance is to watch the work done. This is the only sure way of getting the work done according to the schedule and keeping the costs in check. Visit the worksite daily if possible. This will help you spot any problems that a less than honest contractor will gloss over.
A good remodeling contractor is not that difficult to find. It just takes common sense and careful evaluation to find one. Many of them are there to make an honest living. Just keep the above pointers in mind and you will have smooth sailing all the way.