You are having trouble with your plumbing, or your hvac system, or even your garage door. Want to know how to find a good company to do the work? Here are 5 things to look for.

5 Things that I believe differentiate a great service company from a so-so one…

- Size of company. For my money I want to use a company that is big enough and has enough experience so there are no surprises. Most large companies with many employees are rarely stumped when it comes to trouble shooting.

- Stability of company. Although I am sure that there are a few quality start-up service companies out there, I prefer one that has been around and been successful. That tells me that they have the resources to get the job done.

- Set specific appointments. I like my service companies to tell me when they are going to be there within an hour. I hate the "…sometime between 2p and 5p…" routine.

Tell me when you are going to be there, then call me 15 minutes before you get there in case I have stepped out.

Really sharp companies will call me within an hour of completion to make sure I am happy with their work and service.

- Talk to me. Once at my house, I like the company to tell me the issues, then tell me how much it will cost (without guessing) to fix, and also tell me how long it will take to get the job done.

(And don't lie to me. If you are starting on Monday and it’s going to take 4 days don't tell me 2. Dumb as I look even I will begin to suspect something when you show up to work on Thursday.)

If something goes wrong (or right) I want to know as you go, not afterward when you are trying to explain the extra hundred tacked onto the bill…

- Don't be a stranger. If I have a problem after you leave and need you back out to fix or finish a job I don't want to hear "…we will get there when we can…"

I waited for you to get here the first time, once you are in my house doing my job; I should become a priority to you. Anything else is unacceptable.