budget and price aside, I only hire those who come recommended. If the contractor is unknown to me or my circle of friends, references and or a visit to their current or past projects if the reno is large in scope.

Check references. Actually talk to them, if possible in person. See their prior work. Get to know them a little. If you get a ' I don't like this person ' feeling go with it. Those senses are there for a reason. Don't do anything without a signed contract in hand. Cancork Floor said it Details. You want every detail you can get, even if it feels silly to you in the end it's a protection. Right down to who buys and installs the knobs on the cabinets. Also make sure they are connected to the community. Someone that's been around for a while. Not a man that came through with a truck , which is often the case with the lowest bid.

My Mom and Gran had a horrible habit of always going with the lowest bid. In the end they would get what they paid for then complain endlessly about it. Take the time to investigate you won't regret it.

Cancork, I couldn't agree more. If it seems to be a tie in all aspects, then look at the HUMAN. :)

I agree with what others have said. You have to look at more than the quoted price. Is this someone who will listen to you without trying to convince you to do what they want? References, reviews, and how long they have been in the business is also very important.

What about when each one is a business you were given a referral/recommendation for? And from people you trust and liked the work done that you saw (hence why you asked "who did the work")?

Would it influence your decision if a referral came from another professional?

I wouldn't ask for a referral from someone who had done a similar project at their home but during it had the contractor take the fixtures/materials, turned the water off, and left for a holiday weekend that they were 100% incommunicado through all because they got mad over the homeowner complaining. (A friend actually had that happen during a bath remodel, needed to bring in someone else and pay for the materials again to get the job completed.) That would be a major risk that I'm not comfortable taking regardless of how awesome the work I saw was or how diplomatic I can be. :P

I would still have to be able to work with whomever I hired. They would have to be the type of person who will do what I envision unless for some reason, it's not feasible to do. If all three were recommended and I liked all of the professionals I got a quote from, then I would hire the most economical company to save money.

I think word of mouth is one of the best referrals. If you see something done and really like it , asking who did it is a great way to find someone to work on your home. My window installer introduced me to my kitchen designer, I know small town. I couldn't be happier with her work though.

The one who has good referrals, and I feel like I can have civil arguments with! So, good communication/resolution personality fit.

Jenn D - there is more to that story. Your friends either hired a hack or had some unreasonable expectations of the outcome of their job.

If you tick all the boxes as we have recommended, the company you choose should be an upstanding one.

I had done a reno (window replacements) in my home by a company / GC that came highly recommended. His quote for the job was in the middle of 3. Because I trusted my gut and sources, I went with him.

He walked me through the process and also recommended a window that was a bit less expensive than the one I had researched. Assuring me that performance and fit would be the same as the more expensive one.

Window day arrives, sub shows on time, windows arrive on time.

Problems; windows arrive without screens, 3 of the 8 have fit issues that should have been addressed on site, but were not. Draft / air from the outside. The shades were actually moving.

I still owed the last 1/3 of the payment, called him for resolution, he came and inspected the job. Owned the issues and fixed them all.

So if you have a person that you has been recommended, done your homework, and have developed a relationship with this person your project will go smoothly.

The friend had hired the guy because he'd been recommended by the contractor who did her first kitchen reno (she's done 3 kitchen renos, not because the work was shoddy but because her tastes change faster than trends...so, really fast. Her husband says next time they'll just buy a different house with the kitchen the way she wants then. In his mind, buying a new house is easier than yet another kitchen reno.)

I was impressed by the contractor who had been paying enough attention to prepare what was essentially two bids, one for each of the possible options for doing the project that I'd talked about - he could also handle two things at once well; talking about the project and getting the technical specs. The one with the lowest bid came across better (more personable?) than the one in the middle but then tried to upsell with work I wasn't asking to get a bid on. And as far as "Mr. Middle", not much detail in the bid and not much to say while at my house.

Is it somewhat common to have arguments with contractors? A spouse/partner I'd expect to argue with, but a contractor? I did yell at the guy who had pretty much sealed the cat inside the wall when putting up the drywall several years back - not just because of the cat thing but because taking it down to get the cat out led to the discovery of how much of said drywall wasn't attached to the studs, so if he'd put the tile up with it still that way there would come a day when a shower would include tile falling along with water. I don't think he put the cat in there and dry-walled a kitty prison on purpose, she most likely climbed in to explore while he was at lunch and once he started work again she was terrified so she stayed where she was. Still yelled at him though, including about redoing the drywall correctly.

Best price and highest reviews and recommendations.

I hire myself, every time. There's nobody who can do it anywhere close to as cheap as I can. The other benefit is I always do it just like what we want, so there is never a dispute. :)

That's a good question but not one that can be answered based on price. There is usually a good reason not to hire the cheapest but a good recommendation and good communication are the important factors.