The walls of your house are the largest surface that people see. When they have been correctly placed on the drywall by a professional, they blend seamlessly into the background and the pictures on the wall become the center of attention. When the drywall contractor did a bad job, the bumps in the wall stick out like a sore thumb and that’s all he’ll see.

Choosing a drywall contractor that produces perfect results can be easy if you follow these steps.

1. Make sure the drywall contractor has on their team someone who has at least 5 years of experience.

It can take up to 5 years to become an expert at cutting drywall. There are many complex skills involved in this trade. It is not something that can be learned overnight. The more experience, the better.

2. Get multiple quotes.

Drywall prices can be competitive, especially in times of recession when many are out of work due to a lack of new home construction. Getting multiple quotes can ensure that you get a fair price.

A good contractor will come and measure your house before giving you a quote. You can take this opportunity to ask them any questions you may have.

3. Check the phone book and online for listings of contractors.

Reputable drywall contractors who guarantee their work will have an ad in the phone book and/or an online website. When you go with someone who has taken the time to advertise, you know you can always contact them if you ever need patches in the future. Often they will do this at no additional charge.

4. Don’t always go with the lowest quote.

As the saying goes, you get what you pay for. Instead of choosing your contractor based solely on price, ask what their touch-up policy is: are they free or do you have to pay for them? What happens if your new house sits and nails come out of the wall? Do they fix them for free?

Do they guarantee their work? Are they insured? Do you use random subcontractors or have a crew of workers on your payroll?

5. Get referrals.

Always ask for a few names of recent clients so that you can contact them and see if they were satisfied with the job or not. Was it easy to communicate with the contractor during the job?

If possible, stop by a current job site they’re working on unexpectedly to see their work firsthand. Is it clean? Are the workers willing to answer your questions?

Once you are armed with the information above, you can make your final decision on which drywall contractor to hire. It will make all the difference to your stress levels during construction and ensure your house looks great in the end.