WATCH YOUR 6 - how to protect yourself from low-ball bids

It's a common practice that many homeowners fall victim to - contractors who bid a project for a discount price in order to get their foot in the door, and then price gouge their customers with change orders and add-ons. These contractors are winning the job with a low-ball bid on the front-end, but banking on the back-end for higher costs and profitability.
Too often homeowners look primarily at the contract price when they are deciding who to hire to work in their homes. Don't get me wrong, price is a huge consideration, but it should not be the primary one when it comes to awarding a contract. There are many other things to consider to be sure you are getting the best value, and to ensure you are limiting your exposure to extra costs down the road.
Here are some tools to make sure you avoid this pitfall:
Get it in writing! This cannot be emphasized enough.