Have you decided you need a building contractor? Perhaps you've got a new plot of land that's crying out for your dream home, or you want to add more space to the kitchen or squeeze in a new bathroom. Movies such as "The Money Pit" and "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House" give you an idea of the worst-case scenario, with costs piling atop costs and the buyers feeling increasingly bewildered and frustrated.  Once you've stopped laughing (or crying), follow our tips to find a building contractor that won't leave you like these cinematic victims.

Finding a contractor
One place to start is to go through the Better Business Bureau, which will allow you to search for local businesses.  Another is Angie's List, where consumers post reviews of local businesses, including building contractors. The BBB search is free; Angie's List charges a monthly fee that varies by location. 

A third possible resource is ContractorCheck.com, which will, for $13, provide you with licensing, insurance information, and any judgments against an individual contractor.

Do your homework
Once you find a possible contractor, call several of the references provided.  Ideally, you'll want to get several potential contractors.  And remember: you should be finding them, rather than letting them find you.

Beware of contractors who show up at your door and give you a sales pitch because they happen to be "in the neighborhood."  When calling references, try and find people who had work done several years ago, as they might be able to tell you about problems that didn't show up until long after the job was finished.  You might even try to visit a job in progress, to see how your contractor works.

Let the bidding begin
Once you have multiple contractors lined up, ask for bids on the work, in writing. Minnesota's Department of Labor and Industry has a good guide for what you should expect in a bid. You'll want the bid to include information about any subcontractors that might be used; a reasonable estimate of the time the job will take; and a clause that will allow you time to inspect the project before making final payment.

The contractor should be responsible for obtaining any building permits that will be necessary. If you're asked to get the permits, treat that as a big red flag, since it means you will be charged with the responsibility for following local building codes.  You'll want to make sure that your payments aren't "front-loaded": you don't want to have paid out 50 percent of the money when only 25 percent of the work has been done.

Be prepared
Finally, do as much work as you can before the contractor ever sets foot on your property. Making changes midway through is expensive, so have your plans drawn up and be committed to what you want to do before you sign the final contract. That way, once you enter into the stressful process of finding a good contractor, you can worry less about whether this project is really what you want.