You won't be finding the perfect contractor simply by having good luck. You're going to want to take some time to do some research and figure out exactly the results that you're trying to achieve. If you do not establish exact parameters before you start looking for a local contractor, you won't be able to tell if a candidate is really the right person for the job. You can get help from our list of methods and start creating a checklist of the qualities you're after. When you are 100% satisfied with the work done, you could make the final payment then. Be certain you are happy that you are okay with the work done by inspecting it yourself or hire someone else do the inspection. Never make the final payment until you are fully satisfied with the work done. It's important to keep a complete paper trail, not only for tax purposes but in case any problems with the work the contractor did for you surfaces somewhere down the line.