Everybody wants to set off on their own and DIY-up their bathroom. However, remodeling a bathroom is hard, complicated work, so hiring a professional can save you a ton of time and energy. But a lot of would-be home improvers aren’t sure what to look for when they’re searching for the right bathroom remodeling contractor. Here are some things you should look for:

• A promised schedule. Think about it: do you want a contractor dragging drywall and countertops through your house, off and on, for several months? Of course not. When you’re looking for the right bathroom remodeling contractor, ask them detailed questions about their schedule. The shorter the time frame they can complete the work you want them to do, the better. Of course, you don’t want them to do a shoddy, rushed job, but a happy medium can be found. You want them to complete their work and be on their way so that you can enjoy your new remodeled bathroom in peace!

• A good history. Contractors have gotten a bad rap in recent years, and for good reason: there are a lot of contractors that do sub-par work and are dishonest with their clients. That’s why you should find a bathroom remodeling contractor in your area with a sterling reputation. How can you find that out? The old-fashioned way: word-of-mouth and research. Ask around and see if any of your friends have recently used a bathroom remodeling contractor. Were they happy with his services? Was he honest with his timeframe? Good, reliable contractors rely on this kind of word-of-mouth to grow their business. You can also browse online to find reviews of local contractors. If a contractor does poor or sloppy work, his or her clients will almost certainly take to the web and let their voices be heard. If you do a little homework, you can find the right bathroom remodeling contractor for your home in no time!

• Flexibility. One of the primary reasons you should choose a bathroom remodeling contractor is your ability to customize. While some contractors offer a whole range of services, all the way from design to installation, most will arrive without a clue as to what kind of work they will be doing. It’s up to you to provide them with your own detailed plans and designs. When you’re looking for the right bathroom remodeling contractor, find one who has done similar work to what you want to accomplish, or a contractor with a wide range of experience. Your custom-designed bathroom needs a flexible, knowledgeable contractor to jump off the page and into reality.

• Shop around. Perhaps most importantly, don’t just settle for the first contractor you interview. Talk to several, and ask for written proposals and estimates from all of them. That way you can later on compare their prices and backgrounds side by side and make the best, most informed decision for you.

If you explore your options and look for these traits in your bathroom remodeling contractor candidates, you can have your dream bathroom before you know it. Doing it yourself is fine, but sometimes the expertise of an honest, knowledgeable bathroom remodeling contractor is necessary to make it happen.