Its important to make sure you have the right people doing your install. The most beautiful tiles in the world cannot out-shine a mediocre installation.
Depending on the size of the job, you may want to do the work yourself. This is fine for smaller projects but as the complexity increases, there is plenty of advantage in calling on some expert help.
Smaller local tilers from the local papers can often be the most cost effective solution to a residential project. By minimizing daily travel expenses and down-time sitting in traffic, they can focus on getting the job done. Be sure to request job references of other customers as there is less consistency with the small contractors. There is plenty of gems out there in this category.