Will the workers be employees? or subcontractors? These people may be working in your home, maybe while you are at work.  Have they had background checks?  While most companies are required to have Liability insurance to get and kee their license, do they have Workers' Compensation insurance in the event a worker gets hurt?  How long will the project take?  Will they be disturbing Lead paint or asbestos?  If so, make sure they are certified to deal with these materials.

Do your homework.  You can never ask enough questions.  Take your time.  There is alot of fantastic information on the internet.  In construction, there are many ways and opinions on materials, processes and costs.  Only deal with reputable contractors.   Check their credentials, get references and ask to see work they have done.  With the last down turn in the economy, usually the good contractors are left standing, so use one that has been around for awhile.  You could also hire a construction management consulting firm.  They will know what questions to ask your contractor and can even help manage your project during the building process and confirm the project is on schedule and being executed as promised, using accepted building practices.

Contact an established mold remediation company.  Mold can be dangerous to your health and you don't want to take any chances.  We run into mold frequently due to just the situation you have.  As seen in the picture, oftentimes the airflow from the soffit into the attic is clogged with insulation causing humidity to be trapped in the attic.  This is another contributor to mold so make sure you don't also have this situation.  We always use a certified and credentialed mold company.  This is not an area you want to cut corners.

Solar Panels are increasing in energy generation and energy storage is getting better and better.  You definitely need to make sure that your dwelling is positioned on the property to maximize benefits.  While it is way down the road, make sure to investigate the implications of what happens when the day comes to replace your shingles.  I would make sure you also have adequate insurance in the event the panels are damaged by hail, trees etc. and that you have a comprehensive maintenance program in place should you elect to have panels installed.  You may want to check with your local building code authority and see if you are able to have solar panels on your property other than on the roof if you have enough space.  Just like the VCR, solar panels are coming down in cost and going up in efficiency, so you may want to wait.  If you could have many less panels in the near future, that produce more output, that may be the best choice. Here is a link of many residential applications https://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0LEVzpL309ThhkA45xXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0YXQwZXBpBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2JmMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDQxNl8x?_adv_prop=image&fr=yfp-t-745-s&sz=all&va=solar+panels+homes

Check seals on doors & windows.  Replace single pane windows with newer products.  Check the attic for insulation.  Loose fill, blown in insulation is the best.  Make sure to seal any spots where air is escaping INTO the attic first.  Also make sure your attic has both adequate intake AND exhaust ventilation.  Make sure not to clog the airflow from the soffit area and the attic space by using Baffles as seen in the picture.  Check out YouTube for other great suggestions. 

We always suggest clients spend some time on Pinterest first to narrow down their ideas since there are so many options available.  You don't want to discover what your budget will allow by spending endless hours confusing material selection with company selection.  Next, research online and find 3 good companies to interview, narrowing your search down to one.  It is an involved process so you have to have chemistry with the person you work with.  Make sure they will be available throughout the process, not just for the sale.  Consider all components to the kitchen: appliances, cabinetry, heating sources-gas, electric etc, flooring, flow & lighting. 

Make sure when you have a new roof installed that you check for the proper licenses, insurance & accreditations.  Get recent and old references.  Ask if they are going to use Gutter apron at the eaves and drip edge on the gable.  What type of ridge vent will they use?  Will it have a baffle in it to prevent wind driven snow from entering your attic?  Will they use ring-shanked nails for the ridge vent so the ridge vent nails won't back out over time?  Make sure you understand warranties and the fine print of these, especially the pro-rated portion.  Make sure to address both intake & exhaust ventilation, as well as attic ventilation as all of these properly working will dramatically extend the life of your roof and save on energy costs. A great way to educate yourself is to do searches on YouTube or you can visit our website www.croixco.com for helpful ideas and questions.  Check out our Pinterest page for other great pictures and ideas.