(DO Ask for receipts if it's for material deposits.)Share competing bid information and "bid shop".Encourage bidders to get into a bidding war.Try to low-ball contractors.....they will try to cut corners or make it up with change orders a lot of times.And finally, DON'T assume that "All Contractors are Crooks" or that "All Contractors Will Rip You Off".  

I found my current guy by wandering into a small locally owned paint shop and saying, "do you know anyone who can build a deck handrail?"

What was the hourly return $ per hour consider the entire year you did not nothing but home improvement and shopping?  

Meet them for coffee.

It just doesn't take twice as much work to list a $400,000 home as a $200,000 home, so shop around for competent professionals charging fees commensurate with the work.  

@Jennifer Zedlitz Since they are your friends and they are having a baby, go out for coffee and have a conversation with them.

Just keep shopping around, try the commercial lending departments at small local banks in your area.  

As long as the model of HAUS is more efficient and cost-saving, it will overtake the industry.Example: When Airbnb was first looking for funding, they emailed 20 investors, of whom 10 replied, of whom they met 5 for coffee.

Then you should call other mortgage companies to shop around. 

Chocolate/Coffee/Baking shops popping up.