Excellent question! In addition to the general advice found on our “How to Choose a Remodeler” page, remember to ask lots of questions. Many people are concerned about price, but prices can vary significantly depending on the size of the remodeling company, the experience and expertise, the level of service and the quality of materials on which the estimate is based. Competitive bids assume that the bidding remodelers will do the same quality of work, have all the appropriate insurances, warrant their trades the same, use the same materials, adhere to the same schedule, and provide equal levels of service.  Even if the prices are comparable, the same price can get you a wide variety of results.
Other considerations to keep in mind include:

• Do you plan to live in the home during the remodel?
• Will contractors be inside your home?
• Do you have children or pets?
• Would your project value be enhanced by using a qualified designer?
• Will multiple trades be involved?

First, be sure that they are registered and/or licensed with the state to do business as a remodeling contractor. Check, too, for membership in local and state remodeling professional organizations, such as NARI and NARI-Idaho, and whether they have certifications in their trades (i.e., Green Certified Professional Certification, Certified Remodeler (CR), Certified Remodeler Specialist (CRS), Certified Remodeler Associate (CRA), Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler (CKBR), Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC), Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS), etc.). Other factors to consider may include length of time in business, reputation, recommendations and references, and membership in local business, civic and community organizations.
NARI offers the following questions you should also ask of prospective remodelers:

• How long have you been in business?
• Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job? 
• Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors? 
• Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance? (Always verify this information by calling the agency. A copy of an insurance certificate does not let you know if the policy is still current. Even if the certificate has an expiration date. you cannot tell if the insurance has been canceled by either party. If licensing is required in your state also ask if the contractor is licensed and call to verify compliance with the law. Not all states offer or require licensing. Check with your local or state government agencies.) 
• What is your approach to a project such as this? 
• How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year? 
• May I have a list of reference from those projects? 
• May I have a list of business referrals or suppliers? 
• What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?

There are many. Here are just a few…

• Strite Design+Remodel is a local and national award-winning remodeling company that has served the remodeling needs of Treasure Valley residents since 1975.
• Jim Strite has been a major force behind improving the industry and lobbied for more than 20 years to secure consumer protection measures, including the development of our current contractor registration law. As a result of his involvement, Jim was nominated to serve as one of the first RCE (Registered Contractor Entity) Board members.  Strite's RCE number is 5, the first number available after the Governor appointed the first four board members (currently the registration number is over 25,000).  Jim continues to be involved in improving the industry by training remodelers throughout the country on how to run a successful business.
• Strite's team approach, maintaining its core team members for the last 18 years, has been a primary factor in providing excellent customer service.
• Strite Design+Remodel has a reputation for excellence and invites you to view our client list and talk to our clients about their experience with us.
• Strite Design+Remodel is a member of Guild Quality, a third-party customer satisfaction survey and reporting company, and has been recognized as a Guildmaster or Guildmaster with Distinction for the last three years in a row. According to Guild Quality, over 95% of our customers surveyed since 2006 would recommend Strite Design+Remodel to others compared to a national average of 60%.
• Strite Design+Remodel has qualified designers on staff to help you bring your remodeling vision to life.

When new home building declines, some home builders look for other ways to generate revenue, and remodeling seems to be among the more popular. Yet, when it comes to remodeling, there are many factors involved that new home builders don’t typically face. Retrofitting a space is more complex than building something from the ground up. This is true even when adding onto your home, as it will still require blending the new area into an existing structure and connecting all the necessary services (e.g., electrical, heating and plumbing, etc.) to the original home. Other considerations will include maintaining the livability of the existing home for the family and pets throughout the process, which is a situation unique to remodeling and that reputable remodeling contractors are experienced at handling.

Strite Design+Remodel incorporates the design and planning into all of our remodeling projects.  SDR has the remodeling experience as well as the understanding of its cost.  Having in-house design professionals allows SDR to keep the budget in mind throughout the design process.  This solidifies the cost effectiveness of Strite's systems and processes.

If you are getting competitive bids be sure to only work with reputable companies.  We also recommend researching articles and tips from the industry websites such as RemodelingMag.com and NARIofIdaho.org to learn more about the importance of selecting a professional remodeler.