If you're planning to embark on any energy-saving projects at home, chances are good you're going to have to call on a contractor for installation. Before you flip a coin or select a name at random from the Yellow Pages, however, there are a few things you should consider -- and these issues reach well beyond the contractor who rolls in at 2 p.m. (if he shows up at all), or the product that's installed improperly. A little research will help the empowered homeowner select the good apples from the bad ones. The U.S. Department of Energy offers the following suggestions for homeowners searching for contractors:

*If possible, limit your choices to local contractors; they're usually less expensive.

*Obtain a minimum of three bids before signing a contract. The greater your pool of choices, the greater your chances of landing the best contractor for the job. All terms in the bids should be similar, and all details should be in writing. Depending upon the job in question, you should have the contractors visit the site before bidding on the project.

*Make sure that the contractors are licensed and have liability insurance.

*Inquire about the contractors' previous experience, and ask for references. How many jobs have they completed? Have they had any formal training in installing the specified product or system? You should also check their record with the Better Business Bureau.

*Include in the contract the dates on which you expect services to begin and end. This protects you from contractors who begin jobs very late or leave jobs and return at much later dates. And, as the DOE points out, homeowners lose money when contractors are late because the savings the project would have incurred had it been installed are lost.

*Never fully pay contractors before they begin the project. Pay the contractors in installments -- at the beginning, the middle, and the end of the job, for example.

*Find out if the contractor will allow you to buy his or her materials. Sometimes the materials are less expensive when you purchase them yourself.

*Note whether you need permits and whether permits are included in the contract. Some contractors require you to purchase and obtain these yourself. Obtaining permits is a time-consuming process that can last several hours. If the contractor is obtaining the permits and is being paid at an hourly rate, find out if he or she is charging by the hour to obtain the permits.

*Beware of contractors who bid much lower than other contractors for the same job. You should thoroughly read and understand the contract before signing it. Make sure that a cancellation form is attached as required by consumer protection laws. This allows you to cancel a contract worth more than $25 before midnight of the third business day after the transaction.

For a list of certified contractors in your neck of the woods, contact the Insulation Contractors Association of America (ICAA).

Published: April 1, 1998

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