Looking to have a unique structure built

I have in mind a unique structure for a project and am looking to gather bids from builders to choose one capable of doing a quality job without burning up a zillion prims unnecessarily. I have mentioned the project to a few builders and am awaiting their bids.

I have a couple questions on this overall process.

What's the best way for residents to find experienced builders for custom projects? Fill out and pay for a classifed ad? I can do a "find" and search for builders and slog through the list that way, but I'm wondering if there is a better (web?) way. Contact those who built cool structures and ask them to bid on the project? Referrals from friends?

BTW, if anybody reading this is a builder with advanced building/design skills (scripting not necessary, I will do the scripting myself) wants to contact me in world, I'll be happy to share more detail directly in confidence (do not want to share any more detail here).

I will want a formal bid by email (in L$) and fully expect to pay up front for part of the project and pay the balance on delivery. I'm not requiring this to be a professional builder, but do want somebody (or some group) who runs and treats their building skills and the job like a professional.

I'm also considering having a maintenance fee for the building as I expect it to grow and will need expansion so I'm hoping to find somebody that will be around awhile and is willing to do future work on the same project.

I also have a separate sim-size project plan but that will be in the future. The project I'm talking about here is much, much smaller in size. For someone of good building skill it probably won't take too long nor should be too expensive. Could I learn how to build it myself? Maybe, but I'm choosing to focus on specializing in scripting instead and to try and pump L$ back into the economy.

Comments/feedback/suggestion? And if this isn't appropriate for this forum then please move to the one where it is most appropriate. Thank you.

Just some things to note.

i) Write down the specifics of the requirements in a notecard so that you can distribute it and all the builders will be looking at the same thing. This should include the brief, required date of completion, the payment structure, etc. Remember, you can drop pictures and objects into a notecard as well.

ii) A good builder is not necesarily one that will build the fastest or in a timely manner. Most who are good at it have RL jobs in a related field and may have other commitments or are more concerned with quality than time.

iii) Be wary of overly eager builders.