Remodeling Magazine recently released its 2008 National Cost vs Value report that breaks down the costs of remodeling projects and measures the potential return to homeowners who undertake specific projects.  On their website they go further and break down the report by region and even to city city metro areas, so below I have the data from the Boston area displayed.

"Advantage, homeowners" in this Sunday's Boston Globe, discusses how consumers now have the upper hand in choosing a contractor: