1. Will your contractor work with you and your architect throughout the design process to ensure that you stay within your budget? Making changes to your project during the design process is much less expensive than making changes once materials have been put in place.

2. Whether you use a separate architect and contractor, or one firm that does both, check licenses and references. If possible, look at samples of work that are projects similar to yours. Check the contractor's reputation. It is almost impossible to ask too many questions.

3. Before signing any contract, ask how changes will be handled once the project begins. Ask about what communication you should expect, and how often you will meet with your project manager.Will the contractor pass on discounts he/she receives from the companies that provide your flooring, cabinets and other items?

4. Solicit bids from at least two contractors, and don't automatically choose the lowest one. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples. For example, does one contract include cabinets, while another lists an allowance for you to purchase cabinets? Does one list an allowance of $5,000 for flooring, while another lists $10,000? Do the contracts specify similar materials? Will one contractor do more to minimize mess or disruption?

5. Agree with the contractor before work begins about schedules and communication. If you want to inspect the progress and talk to the contractor at the end of every day, say so. Ask if there are days when no one will be working. There are legitimate reasons (concrete is drying, county inspector needs to approve wiring, subcontractor can't come until tomorrow) and not so legitimate (company is overbooked).

6. Will your contractor provide you with an updated schedule every week? When checking references, be sure to ask about how accurately the contractor met his/her projected completion dates.

7. Does the contractor use a widely accepted contract format? Sure, there are plenty of contracts out there that are one page to 100 hundred pages, however, a contract written by an independent organization, such as the AIA (American Institute of Architects) can be a fair tool in protecting the interests of both the you and the contractor.

8. Get it in writing. Everything. Make sure you have copies of change orders and other documents signed by both you and the contractor. Getting everything in writing now can avoid misunderstandings in the future.

9. What guarantees or warranties does the contractor offer? What follow-up should you expect? What happens if you notice something amiss weeks or months later? What if you have questions later about something that was done?

10. Meet the people who will actually be doing and supervising the work, and trust your instincts. Remodeling can be emotional, and if you're not comfortable communicating with someone before your project begins, you don't want to feel that discomfort throughout the project. You don't have to be friends, but you do have to make decisions together.