On time and In budget - Tips for when working with a contractor

Oh the love of a remodel.  Who doesn't love it?  HGTV, DYI and never-ending blogs promoting the glories of the update, just leave it professionals, right?

Most remodels would be so lucky to have a quick and easy remodel.  In reality, most of us will have one or more problems arise when updating our home.  So, I thought I'd offer a few tips to help things run a little more smoothly.

Tip #1: BE PRESENT

Not in the yoga sense, but the physical one!  Make sure you meet with your foreman and each of the staff who will be working on your home at least once a day.  Have the lead contractor's cell phone number and check in daily if you can't physically check in during the work day. 

Tip #2: REVIEW

Review the job with the foreman or designer to review the colors of the paint, location of each paint color, finishes being used, everything!  Don't assume they have remembered what you wanted, especially if there are a lot of people working on the job.

Tip #3: JUST SAY NO

Avoid going with a contractor if they use subcontractors, usually the subs haven't reviewed the job thoroughly, or at all.  My parents have a nightmare story of their recent bathroom update - the subs were not qualified, even though they had used the same contractor for years and were happy with his work in the past.

Tip #4: AGREE ON A TIMELINE AND CONTRACT

Make sure you agree with the contractor when the job will be complete.  Get it in writing if possible with a discount to you if they don't complete on time.  Alot of contractors will pick up more jobs than they can handle and then work on each job a little each day. 

Tip #5:  NOTE IMPORTANT DATES

Find out when items (such as tiles) will be delivered, make sure everything arrives on time, and when each item does, check to make sure the correct item and quantity arrived. 

Tip # 6:  CHECK THE WORK

Once the work has been done (or started), make sure it is up to your standards.  If it isn't, ask for it to be done correctly.  Take photos to document. 

Tip #7:  PAY FOR COMPLETED WORK

If you have checked the work and something isn't correct, make sure it is done before you pay the full rate.  The contractor I work with may not agree with me on this, as his company is a reputable company, but many are not and you don't want to get left with unfinished work and a handful of excuses. 


Following these should help your job run more smoothly, but know it is rare for a remodel to be 100% free of mistakes, so make allowances for them and be a flexible client to ensure the smoothest update possible. 

Shutter Lumber