Material choices: Some companies will just quote you a really rough price based on the basic criteria you select, whether it be for an office, bedroom, living space or any other type of garage conversion. The best price estimates will break down labor costs and will offer you choices regarding materials.

Then, once you’ve selected the grade of materials that you desire, the material costs should be itemized separately from labor charges in the estimate.

Past work: Glossy brochures, business cards, and a functioning website are all par for the course. If you’re going to entrust thousands of your hard-earned dollars to a company professing to be able to convert your garage into a worthy living space, you’d better ask for references. With the prevalence of smartphones, today’s reference had better come with pictures.

Any contractor who is proud of their work will have countless before and after photographs available so that they can demonstrate the quality and unique style of their work to new prospective clients such as yourself.

Opinions: Often overlooked is the aspect of creativity that goes into a successful garage conversion project. As the homeowner, you’re sure to have many great ideas as to what you envision your finished product to be. That said, a true professional will be able to offer their own suggestions regarding layout, materials and color choices that will make your job easier.

The right team will be able to suggest space-saving ideas, design elements and other possibilities that may enhance the value and usefulness of your space once the garage conversion process is complete.

Main house walkthrough: Another aspect of a garage conversion process that is easily missed is whether or not it fits well with your original home’s decor and layout. While it’s totally within your right as the homeowner to give your remodeled garage a slightly different twist, you want to be mindful of the cohesiveness the overall home will have once the work is complete.

A top-notch garage conversion contractor will ask to see the main portion of your home, in addition to the garage, to get a good feel for what you can do to make the most of your conversion effort.

Heating and cooling: After you’ve done your due diligence regarding your contractor and feel comfortable with their ability and pricing, be sure to ask them about heating and cooling options and whether those functions can be brought into the garage.

They might remark that it is possible but may also indicate that such work will come at an additional cost. It’s important to hammer out exactly what is included and what is not when you seal a deal and hand over a deposit check.

The door: Every garage has a door and some have two or more. You’ll want to make sure the question of your garage doors is addressed by your garage conversion specialist as a primary component of their estimate. If they don’t bring it up, they might just be assuming that you’re comfortable leaving the door as it is.

In many garage conversions, homeowners want the garage to appear as if it has never been a garage in the first place. This will require either framing out where the garage doors once had been or putting in another type of entryway that has the right aesthetic appearance.

Permits: Local building authorities can be found at your city’s municipal center and, in most cases, a qualified contractor will already know what codes and permits are relevant to the project at hand. Be sure to breach this topic with any garage conversion company you’re considering and expect detailed answers.

If you hear, “I’ll look into it” or “It shouldn’t be a problem,” chances are you might be in murky waters. Some garage conversion projects won’t require any permits or approval from the town, but it’s important to know what the requirements are in your area.