Plan on spending between $200 to $300 on a good quality bathroom or kitchen faucet. That may seem high, but keep in mind that today's faucets don't leak and last a life time.

American manufacturers like Kohler, American Standard and Delta offer a good selection. Even if you go for a more expensive European faucet by Grohe, Hans Grohe or Porcelanosa, you'll find many deeply discounted on the Internet.

No matter what your budget, look for the following six things in a faucet:

1) Ceramic or Metal Cartridge
Look for a ceramic cartridge, ball or disk valve faucet if it is in your budget. If not, look for stainless steel and brass since they also last a long time. The faucet box generally will tell you the kinds of valve the faucet has. If the box does not reveal the composition of the cartridge, don't buy it. Most manufacturers will go out of their way to say their product is ceramic, ball or disk valve. If they don't, it's probably not a good faucet.

If in doubt about a faucet, go to the manufacturer's web site and find the replacement parts list for your faucet. It will usually tell you the actual materials used in the valve. If not, use the toll-free number and call the manufacturer's customer service department. If you do buy a faucet with a plastic cartridge, go ahead and get the replacement cartridge now — you'll need it eventually.

2) Say no to Plastic
Plastic has no place in a sink fixtures. Look for brass metal construction and avoid plastic on handles which over time turns yellow. Good faucets feel heavy and very solid. If you are not sure how heavy it should feel, ask the salesman or clerk to see a hose bib (the outside faucet your hose attaches to). These are almost always heavy, solid brass. Your faucet should be at least this heavy.

3) Smooth Operation
Turn the handle or handles fully on and off. The operation should be smooth with no hitches, and certainly no scratching or grinding noises. Try a very expensive faucet and then a cheaper one. You'll notice the difference. If the handle seems to bind or stiffen in certain positions, there is probably a problem with the faucet. Don't buy it.

4) Easy to Clean
Look for a faucet that is easy to clean. We find that the modern styles are easier to clean.

5) Make sure the finish is consistent
High end bathroom and kitchen faucets generally use brushed nickel instead of polished chrome. It really depends on your bathrooms' or kitchen's style. Some of the European faucets have stainless steel. Check before buying.

6) Pull-out Spouts in Kitchen Faucets
We personally like the no pull-out models since we always had trouble with the pull-out spouts. The one in our kitchen is a Grohe and also has a spray control on the tip.

Make sure any spout pull-out device operates smoothly without catching. It may be hard to tell before it is installed, however, because the hose counter-weight is not fitted until installation. Any pull-out spout can be damaged if it is pulled too far and too hard. You probably won't do this, but your children will. Look for a solid metal-to-metal attachment.