Keeping your Home Renovation Contractor Happy
When you hire a contractor, you are at the stage of preparing yourself for an overhaul of your home, your life and inevitably, your wallet. Taking on a home renovation project is a huge commitment and trusting a contractor to take on the job is equally as important.
Before hiring your contractor, do your homework ask around to your friends who they've used, using websites like Homestars.com and Houzz.com can give you a good idea of how reliable these contractors are in the workforce.
As big as this commitment is, your contractor won't just be left behind to do the job you've hired them to do. You need to make sure you're there to give them guidance and your preferences prior and during the home renovation.
Remember, the contractor is in your home doing a job for you so by making your temporary working environment easier on your contractor, makes the job quicker and more efficient.
Here are some tips on how to make your contractor a happy camper:
- Communication
Always communicate to your contractor the way you'd like the job done. If it's choosing the right flooring for your basement, communicate how you'd like them laid out. If it's lighting that seems to get you in a headspin, ask them questions. If something doesn't look right, let them know before they've drywalled and plastered. It makes for a more efficient job well done. - Keep the renovated area clean and clear
To make sure your contractor does an efficient job, make sure the area they are working on is clean and clear of any obstructions. The last thing you want is your hired worker to be moving kids toys out of a construction zone, or a pile of laundry on top of a stack of 2 by 4s. The job of moving your precious items should be on the homeowner. - Curb your Expectations
Know what your contractor will be doing for your home renovation before they start! Your contractor will help you understand timelines and expectations before the build begins to give you a sense of calm during the renovation. Adding more to the project after the build begins, only prolongs the finished product. - Keep out of the way
Funny as that sounds, contractors sometimes become the fabric of your home when they're in the house for a few weeks. Understand that they are at your house for their job and hanging over them and micromanaging can sometimes not be conducive to a working environment. Absolutely ask questions and see the progress as its moving along, but when it gets to be overbearing for the contractor, it can make for a frustrating process. - Space for materials, vehicles and garbage bins
Your contractor will most probably need wide spaces to make sure they collect materials and gathering the garbage after demolition. Give your contractor that space so they can park their vehicles and move around easily so they can do their job more efficiently.
These items can help ease your home renovation project further along and get the mess that is a construction zone out of your house. A happy contractor will most certainly bring a better vibe to the job site and maybe there will be some added perks and touch-ups you weren't expecting!