Tips for New Homeowners Working With Contractors for the First Time

Welcome back to another helpful edition of New Homeowner’s Guide!  Today on the blog we’re refreshing our homeowner tip guide to help you navigate the ins-and-outs to working with contractors. Straight from the source, here are some of the most helpful things we’ve found when working with our clients. We hope that it helps take some of the stress out of what to expect and how to handle different topics when working with renovation crews and designers. These simple tips for new homeowners working with contractors for the first time will make the process much more comfortable once you know what to expect!

Establish clear, concise, and open communication with all contractors. 

Ensure that they also have your contact information to reach out to you in case of emergency or on-the-spot decision making. Ask them the best time to reach them and who to call if there are any issues or questions while work is being done. Sometimes there will be a central office, other times you’ll want to reach out to the site manager; feel free to ask for that information up front so things go smoothly from the start. And of course, don’t be shy! If you don’t understand some part of the process or work timeline, reach out and ask for clarification.

Make sure you have a very clear, concise budget and inspiration plan to help your contractors and designers understand your vision.

It’s always helpful when contractors have a clear vision of what the client hopes for in a finished product. We can create a plan and source materials to match that within your budget.  If you are unsure about what options you have for materials within your budget, let your contractors know so that they can help guide you through the options. 

We will do our best to provide you with estimates on cost and timeline via e-mail, phone call, or video chat.  Some contractors may still need to schedule an in-person walkthrough or take precise measurements to give an accurate quote before you receive the estimate.

Remember: changing your plan frequently will likely delay work and/or cause the project to incur additional costs, so it’s always best to remain consistent.

Be ready to have a flexible timeline.

We understand a lot of our clients want to have work done ASAP, especially if they’ve been saving and waiting to make a big decision on a renovation or construction project.  However, it’s good to keep in mind that sometimes certain seasons and months may be busier than others. Of course you’re welcome to request a specific date range, but it’s always helpful if you are able to remain open and flexible if those aren’t available.

Sometimes other projects before yours may also be delays beyond our control, which may push back certain timelines. While we do everything in our power to avoid that, sometimes it is an inevitable fact. Knowing ahead of time that this is a possibility will definitely help reduce stress for everyone.

Prepare your home for work to begin to avoid accidental damages. 

We will do our best to be mindful and clean during our work day, but it is always helpful when homeowners take an extra step or two to assist us.  Stow away any delicate decor, valuables, delicate items, or breakables so they’re out of the way and don’t get damaged during renovations.  It would be wonderful to also clear off stairs and walkways to reduce tripping hazards.

Keep children, elderly family members, or from wandering or roaming around the construction areas.  Remember to stow away pets in safe areas so they don’t wander onto the work site as well.

Ensure that a space in your driveway is empty and open, or you’ve noted a designated street parking area, so that your contractors can easily unload materials, move tools around, and go back and forth to work vans/trucks. This will make the process of moving materials and equipment in and out smoother.

Do not try to save time by scheduling all of your contractors to work in the home on the same day.

While this might seem very efficient for your timeline, the bottom line is that it actually slows things down. Giving each crew the ability to work without getting in another contractor's way, stalling out the process.  It’s common for multiple crews to be on site at the same time, but not everyone!  We’ll be happy to work with one another to find the best schedule and get your work done in a timely manner.

We love it when our clients are friendly!

Remember your contractors are human, toowe would love it if you were able to offer a friendly, hospitable environment.  Feel free to inquire, if you feel so inclined, as to whether the crew would like some cold hydration or light refreshments; that’s a kindness that’s always appreciated!

If you have a specific spot that is designated for breaks or lunches, whether it be outside or inside, please let us know as well.  If you’d like us to place trash and recycling or waste materials in a particular receptacle, please let us know where that is.  

Let your contractors know which bathroom facilities will be available to them while they’re working, so that we don’t utilize the wrong facilities in the home.   We certainly understand you don’t want workers wandering all over the property, but please be aware if we can’t use an on-site facility, it might make the job take a bit longer if we have to go off site to use facilities.  While none of this is a requirement to working with contractors, it’s always immensely appreciated when our clients show extra kindness.

Check-in with your contractors periodically, but don’t interrupt while they’re using tools nor hover over the work site, and be mindful of their space and privacy while working. Many contractors will be happy to explain the process to you as they go along, but it’s important to wait until a break in the “action” for any questions so you do not distract the crew while they’re holding dangerous equipment or machinery.  While it’s generally okay to inquire and ask questions, remember this is not a personal tutorial session.

Some contractors may prefer to remain uninterrupted and work on their tasks without an audience, so please be mindful if you’re requested to step away from the direct work site.  Please, do not film your contractors for social media content without explicit consent; some people are not comfortable being on camera or do not wish to publicize their faces.

In some cases, observing contractors at work may not be safe due to equipment, fumes, dust, debris, etc. so please be mindful of worksite safety requirements.  Residents may be asked to leave the site for certain portions of work for your safety.

Stay calm and collected if  you spot an error, and reach out with any questions.

We understand the stress that comes from living in a home under construction (we’ve been there, too!)  If you need to discuss any concerns or problems, communicating calmly will help your contractors troubleshoot best and resolve the issue quickly and professionally.  We want to help you fix the situation, and we need to assess what’s happening and where the issue occurred via clear communicatio.  Letting us know in writing via text or email with photographs helps us document any issues or changes that need to be made, and to concisely communicate with our own staff on what needs to be remedied.  Please reach out to your contractor for assistance before leaving negative reviews, as more often than not it is something we will be able to remedy quickly so everyone is happy!

Tell us when you’re happy with our work!

Since most contractors gain new clients by word of mouth, this is one of the most wonderful things that you can do to support us.   We love to hear from our happy customers, it means the world to a small business like us.  Drop a note via e-mail detailing what you love about the finished project, and feel free to send some snapshots of the finished project after you’ve added your personal design details and finishing flare.  Most contractors love to share before/after photos on our social media, so remember to also let us know if we’re able to post yours!

Consider leaving a kind review on social media and Google, too. Even just a few short sentences and a tap for 5 stars can help us reach new customers. Tell your friends and family via “word of mouth” referrals and pass along our info.  These small steps make a huge impact on independent and small businesses!