Whether you want to build a swimming pool, remodel the kitchen, or replace a leaky roof, getting the right estimate from a reputable company can make all the difference in not only the quality of your home renovation, but in your return on investment as well. In today's difficult economic times, many contractors are happy to offer a discount, but the lowest bid is not necessarily the best bid. Homeowners must be aware of the right questions to ask to make sure they are truly getting a good deal.

General contractors recommend the following 10 tips when securing bids for home remodels and renovations:

1. Be clear on the extent of your work. Each contractor you talk to should receive the same ground rules and expectations. Changing your mind somewhere along

THANK YOU BOULDER for choosing us as the Best Real Estate Company/Office in the 2010 Boulder County GOLD People’s Choice Awards. We are continually grateful to our many clients and we are proud to carry on the tradition of being honored by these awards for well over a decade.

Here is what the Daily Camera said about us:

With its agents averaging 17 years of experience, RE/MAX has a leg up in the highly competitive real estate market. “They are knowledgeable and can convey those important pieces of information that help consumers in this marketplace,” says D.B. Wilson, RE/MAX of Boulder managing broker and president of Boulder Area Realtor Association. “We’re seasoned. We’ve seen good markets and bad, so we can really help people.” Wilson says he’s