Follow tips for motivating your home contractor
Become a “virtual” expert before you even interview your first contractor, advises Christopher Lowell, designer and author of “Seven Layers of Design” and “One-of-aKind Decorating Projects.”
“Use the right terminology,” Lowell said. It tells the contractor “these people are serious, they know what they’re talking about” and they’ll be paying attention to the work.
“The more you let them know you might not know how to do it yourself, but you have a strong idea of the process, the better off you’ll be,” Lowell said.
Encourage the contractor to be forthcoming, he said. You want to be in the loop, so your attitude should be one of “the more you can be up front with us, the more we can solve these problems together,” Lowell said. Get project details in writing
Your bid or contract should be “so specific it leaves nothing to chance,” said Michael Hydeck, master certified remodeler and past president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.
If you notice different materials or unapproved changes, or more materials ordered than your job requires, it’s a red flag that you can document.
It’s also easier to take your concerns to licensing and accrediting authorities to make a complaint, said Norm Abram, master carpenter for long-running home-improvement TV series, “This Old House.”
Some authorities you might consider: the local chapter of the National Association of Home Builders, or whoever licensed your contractor, he said.
You also can talk with the local inspector, Abram said. But be forewarned: Inspectors are only looking to make sure the work meets building codes.
Always talk to your contractor first to “try to get a sense of why this is happening” and see if you can work it out, he said. Include both parties
Include both parties in the discussions with the contractor, Lowell said. Make it clear that both of you are decision-makers.
This can be especially important if one of you will be home while any of the work is being done, he said. If both of you are involved in the conversations, “the person who’s home every day gets the same information as the (one) who’s not on site,” Lowell said.
If you’re a stay-at-home spouse and you’re not included in the conversations and decisions, the contractor “won’t respect you,” Lowell said.
But if you are the one who has to be at home with the contractor and work crew all day, let the spouse who’s not there play “bad cop,” he said.
Get a daily email project report from your contractor, Lowell said. That paper trail will help if you have problems.
Email the contractor, mentioning specific dates, materials to be used, when items are being installed, details of salient conversations, etc., Lowell said. All the contractor has to do is send you a reply that, yes, that’s correct. And a lack of response can be just as telling, he said. Start on Day 1, if you can. “Unless you document everything from the beginning, you will have a hard time,” Abram said. Take lots of photos
If the site is a mess of tools, debris and beer cans after the crew has gone home, you’ll have documentation in living color, said Paul DiMeo, designer and builder for “Building Wild” on the National Geographic Channel.
Be sure to get pictures of any perceived problems, along with photos of “all the major phases of the project,” Lowell said. So if there are corners that were cut, or substandard work or materials, “you’ve built yourself an entire case against this guy and he knows it.”
Opt for addressing problems as soon as you notice them, DiMeo said. “Do it right off the bat. If you see (a problem) on Day Seven, imagine what it’s going to be like on Day 40.” How to have ‘the talk’
“Try and take the emotion out of it. If everyone’s yelling, no one’s being heard.”
And don’t do it in the middle of the site or in front of the crew, DiMeo said.
Striking the right attitude can help, Hydeck said.
“Do it more as a ‘let’s solve this problem,’ rather than placing blame,” Hydeck said. Even if the contractor deserves a talking to, presenting it as a problem you both need to solve, he said.
Constant communication is a must when you’re working with a contractor, DiMeo said.
Hydeck agreed. “Usually when a problem develops, it’s because of a lack of communication,” Hydeck said. Find a pro
What happens if, even after everything you’ve tried, you’re being ignored? Or you fear that the work or materials are substandard?
Hire a pro (such as a building professional or designer) to show up periodically for short periods, see what’s going on, examine the work and report back to you. Not a lot of time needed Try to find a retired carpenter to be there a few hours a week, said DiMeo.
As far as the contractor knows, this is someone you’ve employed for the project, and the pro will play along, Lowell said.
For a designer, who typically earns $150 an hour, you’ll probably need only a halfhour here and there, so it shouldn’t add significantly to the bottom line, Lowell said. Cut the money flow
Expect to pay no more than 10 to 15 percent up front. Additional payments should be made only after the contractor has completed certain specified milestones and the work has passed inspection.
“If they need more money than that, chances are their business credit is not good,” said Lowell.
If you see he’s not doing the job, stop making those payments until the issues are straightened out, Abram said.