After suffering a stroke, Millie Hamel needed to install handrails on the back steps of her Alexandria, Virginia, home. So she hired a local contractor to do the job. Total cost: $900, which she paid up front. That was nearly two years ago -- and the contractor repeatedly failed to show up. That's when Millie contacted GH for help.

Home-improvement problems from homeowners like Millie Hamel are among the top consumer gripes. If you're planning a remodeling job, Good Housekeeping offers these tips:

Get referrals. Ask friends and neighbors for reliable contractors and get two or three bids for the job.

Never pay for the entire job up front. This gives the contractor little incentive to do the job. The Remodelors Council of the National Association of Home Builders recommends putting down about 40 percent on jobs that take less than a week and 20 percent for major renovations like an addition.

Ask to see the contractor's license and insurance policy. Check to make sure they're up to date. If a worker becomes injured in your home, you may be liable. Speak up if you're unhappy. If you get no satisfaction, contact your local consumer protection agency or state attorney general's office. Sometimes a little pressure can go a long way.

After Good Housekeeping spent months trying to get Millie's problem resolved, we prompted her to file a complaint with her local consumer protection department. That did the trick. Millie Hamel received a refund check for $900 a few weeks later.