Fifty years ago, a family room consisted of little more than an old couch, a beat-up recliner, a small television set, and a coffee table that did double-duty as a surface for board games, or a place to pile coats. It was usually a room to which children were banished when Sunday company dropped by, or where Dad retreated to watch sports in peace and quiet.

Today’s family rooms have little in common with those “spare” rooms of old. They are now family hubs, full of activity for all members of the household.  With careful planning, a good size family room (16 ft. x 25 ft.) can function as a media center, a place to do homework or crafts, or a place to throw a neighborhood party. To help your family get the most enjoyment from this room, it’s a good idea to have members contribute to a wish list of features they’d most like to see in a family room addition or remodel.

No doubt you’ve had that sense of unease when trying to find a good contractor.  References are key but what questions should you ask?   Here are some suggestions: 

• Completed the job on time.

• Finish the job on time and on budget.

• Kept regular, reasonable hours.

• Was a professional they would hire again without hesitation.

When you meet with a contractor, make sure you ask:

• How long have you been in business?

• Does your company carry Workers’ Compensation and liability insurance?

• How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?

• What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?

The last question is very important. Quality contractors work nearly exclusively through repeat and referral business. A contractor who puts up his sign in one neighborhood and completes quality work will often find that he can stay in the neighborhood for an extended period of time through referrals.