How to Have a Great Relationship with your Contractor

Inviting a team of contractors to work in your home can be an overwhelming feeling, but it doesn’t have to be!

You’ve decided to hire a team to come into your home and do some work.  Having a bunch of strangers in your home can be a bit overwhelming, especially when ll you can see is construction dust!  Rest assured, with a little research and proper planning, having contractors in your home can be an enjoyable experience.

1. Hire a quality contractor.  Ask your friends and neighbors for a reputable team of contractors that they would recommend.  You can also go on home review websites and find highly rated contractors in your area.

2. Be direct.  A good contractor will appreciate an open line of communication.  From the first phone call, let them know exactly what you are looking for in your home improvement.  Make sure that you are able to be reached if they have any questions, or something changes so you both can work together to find a solution.  If you are ever unhappy with the way things are going, you have already established a rapport and can address it in a timely and professional manner.

3. Prepare the area.  Clear away all unnecessary things from the construction area.  This way, your team can work productively and not worry about breaking something valuable or damaging anything.  Keep kids and pets away from the construction area to avoid injury and to keep distractions to a minimum.

4. Keep in touch.  Ask them every other day how things are going.  This goes back to making yourself available. It will also keep you both in the loop about the project, and if something unexpected arises.

5. Keep visits brief.  The important thing to remember is that the crew is there to do a job, and won’t be offended if your conversations are short and sweet.   You’ve done your part in hiring a reputable team, so there’s no need to hover over them. Try to avoid being a distraction to them.

6. Give credit where credit’s due.  Just like you relied on good reviews from websites and friends, most contractor rely on those good reviews for more business.  If they did a good job, leave a great review on their page! Let them know they did a great job. The crew, and other future customers will thank you.  It also doesn’t hurt to make coffee for them in the morning, either.

Keeping these tips in mind is a good way to have an enjoyable working relationship with your contractor.