How to find a contractor you'll love

CNN Money has some great tips on how to nab a good home improvement professional. Here's how to look for these signs of excellence (or trouble).

Good signs:

He has a good rep in the industry. You already ask friends and neighbors to recommend good contractors, but a more reliable source of referrals is other people in the trades: a plumber you love who raves about a general contractor, for example, or a great tile shop that suggests a tile setter.

They've done business with him, they know how well he plies his craft, and if they're willing to put their professional reputations on the line by vouching for him, they must like what they see.

His business card includes a local address. A tradesman who provides a physical address that's in your community is far less likely to disappear on you than someone whose true locale is hidden behind a post office box.

His list of references is a mile long. Even terrible contractors have had a few happy clients along the way - or have family members who can play the part when you call. The longer the list of references, the less likely it's rigged.

Bad signs:

He wants to skip the permit - or have you apply for it. Any major improvement project legally requires a building permit, which means that inspectors will check the work. If a contractor wants to go without a permit, it means he'd rather not have anyone looking over his shoulder (other than you, but let's face it, you don't know what to look for).

If he wants you to apply for the permit yourself, it could be because he doesn't have the necessary state licensing - and it means you'd be the middleman between the inspector and contractor instead of letting them work things out directly.

He solicits business door to door. A paving contractor rings your bell to say he just did a job in the neighborhood, has extra materials and will cut you a rock-bottom deal if he can work on yours that afternoon. Sounds great, right?

Trouble is, you have no idea who he is or if he's going to do the job right. And if that new pavement starts cracking three weeks later, you'll never get him back to repair the damage.

He seems sleazy. Ultimately, you have to feel comfortable letting this person into your home. Clearly, you're not going to hand your house keys to someone who flips a cigarette butt into your azaleas or leers at your 16-year-old daughter.

But if he doesn't look you straight in the eye or you just have a gut feeling that something might be amiss, go ahead and cross him off your list. Nowadays, thankfully, there are plenty of contractors available to do the job.