Keep your project from being a bomb

I buy two newspapers every day: The New York Times and either the New York Post or the Daily News. Each daily has a lot to recommend, but I get the tabloids mainly for the sports and the gossip. Still, the Post and, more frequently, the News do solid, sometimes provocative metro reporting, as I've discovered in reading the News' recent "Building Boom-Doggle" series.

The third installment on Tuesday, May 29, caught my eye in particular, as it detailed the woes some construction workers, many of them immigrants, face as the New York City building boom satisfies its hunger for more workers. The story is worthwhile read, as it sheds a little light on the darker side of what's generally been reported as a positive happening.

How does this Big Apple story relate to you as a homeowner? Whether you need a handyman for a simple repair or are planning a full-scale remodel for your bathroom or kitchen, you have to make wise hiring decisions. After all the effort you've put into buying your home or designing your dream kitchen, don't be less than thorough when booking pros for your job.

You've likely heard tales of woe from your friends and neighbors who've suffered through miserable experiences with lousy contractors. Doing your homework is no guarantee of a high-quality job that comes in on time and on budget, but you've got to do it.

If you've experienced any nightmarish projects at your home, tell us about them. Please include your full details about the project as well as your name and e-mail address. As always, we'll respect your privacy.—Steven H. Saltzman