In Parts I and II of this series, we talked about important factors to consider when choosing a contractor for your bathroom remodeling project. But how do you find contractors to interview in the first place?
Nowadays there are many ways to find contractors in your area, including personal referral, on the web, in the phone book or just spotting an ad somewhere in our ad-filled environment. The best method is a solid personal referral from a friend, family member or co-worker who's had a great experience with a contractor. Beware that the person giving you the referral has actually FINISHED their project. I've known people to give out referrals before their job is complete, and then regret it by the end!
The phone book and advertisements are less effective ways to find what you want, in my opinion. This is because in both cases there are no filters to the companies you might get exposed to and there is very little information about them. On the internet, at least you can look at their website to see some photos of their work, or perhaps there are reviews of a company available on some authority site. On of the best methods I know of, if you don't have the benefit of a solid personal referral, is to look through industry affiliations. For example, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) or the local Home Builder's Association. The BBB is my first choice, because upon becoming a BBB member, a company has to sign a contract that binds them to the BBB's arbitration process, so if any kind of dispute ever arises, you know a non-biased third party is there to help you.
Home Builder's Associations strive to uphold high industry standards. They are fantastic resources for helping you find and work with contractors. They generally sign members on to a Code of Ethics, but as far as I'm aware they don't have the arbitration services that the BBB has - an important feature in my opinion. Visit the BBB website or your local Home Builder's Association website to find member companies and consumer resources. Once you've found a few companies you're interested in, schedule a meeting with them to see if they fit your needs. If you've read parts 1 and 2 in this series, you'll know some of the questions to ask to help you find the contractor that is just right - for you.