Having a hardwood floor in your home can be a major selling point. Of course, in order to enjoy the selling benefits that a hardwood floor can provide, you need to make certain it is in good shape. In other words, if your wood floor has been covered by carpeting for many years or if it simply looks dull and lifeless, it may be time to have it refinished. Similarly, even if your floor looks great, it might need to be resealed. You can determine if this is necessary by simply pouring a little water on the floor and seeing if it beads up. If it doesn't a reseal is necessary. If you have determined that your wood floor needs to be refinished or resealed, keep these five things in mind when selecting a wood floor refinishing companies in order to enjoy the best results.

• Ask someone you trust - the simplest way to find a reputable world floor refinisher is to simply ask someone you trust. If you know someone who has recently has his or her floor refinished, be sure to ask that person about how well the company performed. If that person had a positive experience, there is a good chance you will too.

• Examine online reviews - if you aren't lucky enough to know someone who has recently had his or her floor refinished, you can still learn from the experiences of others by reading through online reviews of the various companies in your area.

• Check references - while online reviews can provide a good starting point, you will generally be better served by asking the companies to provide references and then contacting those references to learn more about how the company operates. Be sure to prepare some very specific questions before contacting the references and to write down what those individuals say to you. This way, you can go back and review your notes when trying to determine which company to select for the job.

• Learn about the materials - while you certainly want to keep the costs down when refinishing a hardwood floor, you don't want to sacrifice quality for the sake of expense. In order to make sure you get the best results, be certain to select a company that uses quality materials.

• Research insurance and other guarantees - a reputable wood floor refinisher will stand behinds its work with guarantees and will be fully insured and bonded for your protection. Of course, these guarantees should all be put in writing before the job gets started.

The bottom line is that you should never simply acquire multiple bids and then accept the company with the lowest price. Rather, you should take the time to learn more about what each company has to offer as well as its reputation before deciding which company to work with.