The U.S. Economy today has impacted every homeowner, as well as every business connected to the U.S. housing industry. If you're considering a home improvement project this year, you may want to be sure that the general and subcontractors you are considering will be financially viable enough to complete your project and pay their people. You also want to assure yourself they complete their work in a professional and timely fashion.

Virtually every homeowner can share stories or know at least one person who has experienced poor quality craftsmanship or long delays in getting home construction projects completed. I've even seen cases where the contractors went out of business or simply left town, leaving the frustrated homeowner holding the bag.

Don't get scammed
A dozen or so years ago, my sister-in-law and her family encountered trouble with a contractor they hired to build an additional room in their home. The work began professionally, with workmen completing demolition work and framing on schedule. My brother-in-law was referred to the general contractor, and even knew him socially.

But the builder's financial troubles soon became apparent. Rough interior work was left untouched for weeks at a time. Then, different workers would do some of the inside work piecemeal. Subcontractors would complain that they hadn't been paid.

The general contractor wouldn't return phone calls and as time passed, his phone was disconnected and his storefront business closed. Havoc ensued in the family, and they eventually got new workers and family to help them complete the job. But flaws in the previous work remain to this day, such as improperly leveled floors and settling cracks.

Attempting to find and sue the original general contractor went nowhere. Their home improvement budget was blown, and unpaid sub-contractors filed mechanic's liens for payments, which were subsequently settled, with the liens removed. But this took several years and created considerable headaches! So how do you protect yourself when hiring home contractors?

I recently came across a really great article in the Chicago Sun-Times which gave tips on how to avoid shady contractors.

Associated Press reporter, Melissa Kossler Dutton, interviewed Angie Hicks, who founded Angie's List, an Indianapolis IN, membership-fee-based online directory of home repair and improvement contractors of various stripes, as well as Shari Purves-Reiter of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industry, Kip Morse, Regional Governor for Better Business Bureaus, and President of the Central Ohio Better Business Bureaus.

Here are a few of my favorite tips from the AP article and a few suggestions of my own:

1. Check company credentials thoroughly, and ask for examples of previous work. Be wary if the contractor refuses to give you references, even if they are well known and advertised in your area. Be especially careful with those who have relocated their business locations frequently. My real estate team has had negative experience, with roofing contractors who offer "lifetime guarantees," but have a habit of moving around the Chicago area frequently, with slight changes to their company name in order to avoid living up to their warranties.

2. Get a complete list of all subcontractors the general contractor plans to hire. Contact them, and inquire how the general contractor's payment habits. Have the subs been paid in a timely fashion? In full? Have they had any disputes with the general? Again, if info is lacking you should be concerned. Very concerned!

3. If unsure about any company, check their credentials with the Better Business Bureau, or on Angie's List or a similar service. Call your local chamber of commerce and check with neighbors to see if they have any knowledge of poor performance by the contractor you are considering. Some verification companies and local government agencies, such as the Chicago Department of Consumer Affairs, may also help you check credit credentials of home contractors, and whether the firm has been sued by other homeowners.

4. Get a written contract, spelling out in detail specific work schedule and payment terms. Minimize your down payment. You should be concerned about contractors who require sizable down before work begins, and never make your final payment until ALL WORK is completed to your satisfaction. Written confirmation of a work schedule, perhaps building in a small contingency for unanticipated delays, may incentivize the company for finishing early, or penalize a company for delays in the project. Before signing any contract, review with your lawyer or professional adviser, if you are unsure.

5. Get lien waivers from the general contractor and all of the subcontractors after their portions of the work is completed. No waivers, no final payment! If possible, pay the subcontractors directly, rather than passing their payment through the general. This assures with certainty that the subs will indeed be paid. Avoid the potential for mechanic's liens against your home!

My real estate team also maintains our own Professionals Guide, which you can find on our Web site. It lists Chicago area companies previously used or personally checked out by our team members.

You can also contact us by phone or e-mail for a referral. We would rather you consider working with someone we have had successful experience with, and with strong reputations in business, versus a company you do not know. Please share this checklist with those you know and work with.

Visit DEAN & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO at BlogChicagoHomes.com.

After attending numerous home building and design shows this year, it's safe to say that eco-friendly appliances and green home products are more than just a passing trend. If you're thinking about sprucing up your bathroom and want to trade in your conventional home furnishings for something a little more earth-friendly, I'd recommend checking out kitchen and bath manufacturer, Native Trails' fall inventory.

Tatra sink
When it comes to creating an eco-chic bathroom, there's more to greening than water conservation. California-based, Native Trails' handmade sinks, tubs and home accents are all crafted from recycled cooper. Their new Tatra sinks are an eco-friendly and striking alternative to porcelain or ceramic sinks. The textured surface and deep glow of cooper add warmth and a unique finish to any bath décor.

Aurora bathtub
Give your bathroom a cozy cottage look with Native Trails' cooper tub. The Aurora is an oval tub made from 100 percent recycled cooper. Because cooper is highly conductive, it's great material for a bathtub. When hot water starts filling the tub, the tub's surface heats up, allowing it be nice and warm when you climb in.

Old World vanity
The Old World Vanity from Native Trails is a unique piece with a past. Built of reclaimed wood salvaged from barns, fencing and other sources, the vanity's weathered texture and hand-washed finishes create a tranquil, earthy ambiance in your bathroom. Similar to the cooper sinks and tubs in the Native Trails line, the vanity is handcrafted.

Native Trails products are available at top kitchen and bath showrooms in the U.S. and Canada. Visit www.nativetrails.net to view the collection of sinks, tubs, tiles and home accents—all made from recycled materials.

Got hot local housing tips or a story you want to share? Contact Amy Le at openingdoorsblog@HomeFinder.com.

While most people like to believe they are opened-minded, most of us have been guilty at some point in our lives of making judgments based on appearance. When it comes to home buying and selling, the appearance of a property is everything. But to get a true sense of the quality of the home, people should never strictly judge a home by its exterior appearance. A great deal of work may have been invested into making the home look nice, but an inspection can sometimes turn up major internal problems, which could have been easily taken care of beforehand. Whether you're currently in the process of selling a home are just waiting out the real estate downturn, keeping up with basic maintenance repairs will only help increase your home's value.

Recently, I was on the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Web site when I came across a press release from the trade group on the state of the remodeling industry. I was surprised to learn that remodeling projects have been declining since 2005, and that growth within the industry is expected to remain flat for the coming year. Considering that my wife's 'honey to-do list' is ever increasing in scope, I thought that other homeowners would be focusing on revamping their own homes as the real estate market slowly recovers. I guess that I should stop using my wife as a barometer for consumer sentiment.

Affordable repairs
After one weekend of writing several inspection reports, I began to notice that I was making note of the same problems for each house. During the next week, I reviewed some reports produced by other inspectors and found that they had listed some of the same issues. I was taken aback by one report where the inspector noted that the cost to caulk a door would be $75. He gave the same price for a window. I was thinking it would cost me $4 for a tube of caulk, and I could pull out my caulking gun to have the job completed around the house in less than an hour.

With energy and food costs at record highs, people aren't spending the money they once were for basic remodeling and repair projects around the house. To help homeowners cut down cost for basic home projects, I've compiled a repair list detailing some common findings by inspectors, which are all simple tasks that most homeowners can tackle on their own.

Maintenance is a way to prevent major problems with the home in the future. For more helpful repair tips, checkout Ron Haynes's Wisdom Journal blog. Haynes is a veteran in the lumber and building supply industry, his thorough list of common repairs will defiantly help you in your home maintenance. A little different from my own list, but I think they're simple enough to be executed by any determined homeowner.

Take care of your home and it will take care of you. I keep by my calendar a list of items around the house that can use some maintenance, and each week I complete most of those tasks. I find doing a little each week really helps. Don't let repairs pile up. It will only cost you more money and unneeded headaches in the long run.

Frank Schulte-Ladbeck, Professional Real Estate Inspector

This past weekend I flew out to Newport Beach, CA, to meet up with some old friends from high school. One of my friends is now an energy consultant and runs his own company, Azlan Energy Solutions, which provides existing businesses and homes with energy-efficient technology to cut down utility costs and reduce carbon use. As we sat out on the deck of our beach house overlooking the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, RJ and I got into a discussion about the environment. The conversation eventually got us talking about home buyers 'going green,' and the struggles that come with changing the mindset of past generations.

Don't believe the hype
From the newest HGTV programs to the mushrooming number of green-certified builders sprouting up across the country, 'going green' seems to be the hottest trend since fat-free snacks. But what may be a groundswell of media and marketing hype, may not always be true in practice. While there is much discussion about building more environmentally sustainable homes and remodeling existing homes to meet green standards, few homeowners and contractors really understand the process.

Green building or remodeling can be as basic as putting up formaldehyde-free insulation to installing a high-efficiency air conditioning unit. A new kitchen might use energy-efficient refrigerators and dishwashers and fluorescent compact lighting; a bathroom, water-efficient toilets. The exterior of the house might use bricks from the existing house or a metal roof, which helps with home cooling and offers cleaner rainwater runoff. Landscaping might rely on low-water planting techniques or take advantage of rainwater barrels that capture water from the roof to be used in landscaping irrigation.

For most home owners and builders, the cost of going green is a major deterrent, but through some self- education, the process will pay off in the long run. A green-certified designer I met at a home show once told me, 'There's a lot of green-washing going on out there, and consumers need to be aware of the wanna-be-greens and the real deal.' Similar to the popular demand of organic foods in mainstream grocery stores, understanding the labels and requirements for the special certifications will help you decipher between the 'real deal' and the fakes. Being green educated will prevent you from getting scammed out of paying more on something that will have little impact on your long term savings.

Green certification
LEED certification is a rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to help promote green building practices and sustainable development across the country. It rates construction projects of all types by awarding points for green building practices in four separate areas: sustainable sites, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, and innovation and design process. When the points are added up, a structure or project is assigned a LEED rating of Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum, with a LEED Platinum project being about as green as a construction project can get.

The one downside of working towards achieving high LEED ratings can be too much green, as in money. Homes that are LEED Certified generally cost more initially due to the types of materials used and the sometimes unconventional building and design needs of these projects. Consequently, always figure out a budget ahead of time with any building project where LEED certification is a goal. With any major remodel or new home, keeping a tight budget is of utmost importance. Where LEED certification is concerned, it's even more critical. But always keep in mind that while a LEED Certified home will cost more initially, it also will make up the cost difference in energy savings and tax credits over time.

The revolution will be televised
Regardless of your political or environmental views, it's hard to deny the fact that developing countries around the world will continue to grow, and their demand for natural resources will only increase with it. It is essential that we find new ways to conserve our energy and reduce our carbon footprint. As my friend RJ said to me during our tree-hugging conversation this weekend, 'We can't expect everyone to convert over to green technology overnight.…This is a shift towards a new paradigm, and it's going to take some getting use to, but it's a movement that isn't going to go away.'

To find out more about green builders, contractors, architects and interior designers check out these helpful Web sites:

USGBC LEED Certification
National Association of Home Builders Green Building Guidelines
Green Home Guide
Green Home Building Blog
Directory of Green Professionals
TreeHugger.com
TheDailyGreen.com

Got hot local housing tips or a story you want to share? Contact Amy Le at openingdoorsblog@HomeFinder.com.

From Portland, OR, to Ridgewood, N.J., the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) traveled cross country to find this year's top professional bathroom designs. The 2008 winners were announced at NKBA's annual show and conference held in Chicago April 11-13. The winners of this year's competition are:

Powder rooms
An impressive powder room has become a fundamental element in modern homes. More designers today are creating spaces that are reflecting their client's personality, but continue to remain practical. Materials and finishes play a significant role in designing the ideal contemporary powder rooms.

• First place:
Lori W. Carroll, Lori Carroll & Associates, Tucson, AZ

• Second place:
Lori W. Carroll, Lori Carroll & Associates, Tucson, AZ

• Third place:
Lori W. Carroll, Lori Carroll & Associates, Tucson, AZ

• Honorable mention:
Elina Katsioula-Beall, CKD, Dewitt Designer Kitchens, Studio City, CA

Small bathrooms
The tranquil effects of Japanese elements had inspired Michael Ranson's clients for many years, so they asked that he use these elements in creating their new bath. The couple specifically asked that a modern version of a furo, or Japanese soaking tub, be incorporated into the design.

• First place:
Michael Ranson, H O M E + atelier Michael Ranson, San Diego, CA

• Second place:
Leslie Ann Cohen, CKD, Leslie Cohen Design, Cardiff, CA

• Third place:
Tanya L. Woods, X-Tiles, Royal Oak, MI

• Honorable mention:
Mark S. Morris, Mark Morris Design Group, Brisbane, CA

Large bathrooms
This rustic-inspired bathroom features a large double vanity with a counter that has real leaf imprints in the concrete backsplash. But one of the most unique features in this room is the waterfall, which runs down the sandstone-tiled wall into a bed of pebbles.

• First place:
Siri Evju, CKD, CBD, Siri Designs, Portland, OR

• Second place:
Donna L.A. Riddell, CKD, CBD, Artistry Design Group, Ltd., Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

• Third place:
Blue Arnold, CKD, CBD, Kitchens By Request, Inc., Jarrettsville, MD

• Honorable mention:
Tracey Scalzo, CKD, CBD, Eurotech Cabinetry, Inc., Sarasota, FL

Master suite/bathrooms
The challenge of this master bathroom suite was to create a relaxing spa-like feel that included his and hers lavatories, walk-in closets, a make-up table, tub, large shower, linen storage and a separate water closet.

• First place:
Holly Rickert, Ulrich, Inc., Ridgewood, NJ

• Second place:
Nicholas J. Geragi, CKD, CBD, Klaff's, Inc., South Norwalk, CT

• Third place:
Scott and Sandra Gjesdahl, Bristol Design & Construction, Kirkland, WA

• Honorable mention:
Wendy R. Mayes, CKD, Jan Parker's Kitchens By Design, LLC, Wichita, KS

Got hot local housing tips or a story you want to share? Contact Amy Le at openingdoorsblog@HomeFinder.com.