Check references. A residential contractor that finishes basements may not also do second floor additions.

View photos of a contractor's recent project to confirm his/her skills match your expectations.

Create a budget and stick with it. Costs can easily get out of control making your new room a bottomless pit!

Think resale. Vinyl floors or window-mounted air conditioners, for example, will subtract from the value gained by the home improvement addition.

Kitchen and bathroom additions add the most value to a home, but they're also the most costly.