Ask the homeowners if they were happy with the result. Also seek recommendations at retail outlets like hardware stores, lumberyards, and home-improvement stores. With your list of professionals in hand, make a few quick calls to weed out service professionals with questionable records. You might also want to contact the Better Business Bureau and the Attorney General's office to see if any complaints have been filed against the service professionals that you are considering. Interview service professionals.
Good communication is key to a successful project.
A service professional's answers will give you a sense of whether or not you could comfortably work with that individual. Narrow down your list of professionals. Armed with the results of your research, pare down your list to a few service professionals appropriate for your job. Make bid appointments. At least three service professionals should bid on your project.