Working With Contractors and How It Works

Working with a contractor How It Works
First there is no set in stone way of having and maintaining a great relationship with a contractor. We all have different personalities and come from different backgrounds. That being said there will be some things you should expect to transpire.
Timeliness on all parties efforts will create the best and smoothest flow of production. From getting plans and drawings to coordinating schedules with all individuals that will assist or interfere with production. This may sound like the General Contractors responsibility and in most cases it is. There will be situations outside of the contractors control such as nannies/housekeepers, pre-existing telephone/cable companies, subcontractors the homeowner hired separately, homeowner friends and family(whether for a visit or a student coming and going etc.). Miniscule problems can lead to catastrophes when individuals are not aware of their surroundings.
Cleanliness cleanliness cleanliness. Every effort should be taken to keep the work area clean and free from anything that one does not want to get damaged. It is best to move all overhead, under floor, closet, and overflow items out of the job area and out of the home owners and contractor(s) way. We suggest a storage unit or on-site container. Dumpsters(trailer) should be placed on site for heavy debris removal. These should be removed in a timely manner as to prevent overflow. Job site should be tidy, not spotless, at the end of every work day to keep a safe environment when no work is in progress. I personally like to do this so other individuals can see our progress safely. After the job is complete it is very possible dust will settle several times throughout other areas of the home. The contractor should make this aware to the homeowner.
The budget will play a huge part in the transactions throughout the job. The typical format is 1/3, 1/3, 1/3. What does that mean? 3 draws, one up front, one somewheres along midways and one around closing. These draws pay for hired hands, materials and subcontractors. Now it is also not uncommon to hold 10% back until the job is completely finished and the homeowner feels the contractor has held up their end of the deal. It is the responsibility of the contractor to get all building materials to the job site. It is never suggested the contractor assume the responsibility of purchasing any product from their own personal accounts, that is what the draws are for.
All that being said, special purchases have and most likely do fall partially on the responsibility of the homeowner. Special purchases come down to finish items such as appliances, faucets, lighting, handles, knobs, kitchen and bath fixtures and tile. Some contractors will hang art and wall decorations for the homeowner but not most. The homeowner typically takes time to hand pick these items and bring them to the job site or coordinate with the contractor as to where and when they are available for pick up. For what I like to call exotic items from outside the U.S., It must be coordinated with the contractor(before the job starts or preferably several weeks before the phase of installation of the product)on the existence of those items.
Subcontractors can easily make or break a jobs production. They work completely separate from the contractor. They are on a different schedule and sometimes get a large portion of their money before the job is complete from the contractors draws(this is usuall due to the higher costs of materials versus labor). When permits are pulled through the city departments liens are usually set in place that have to be signed off by the subcontractors. Electricans and plumbers are the 2 most common of these types. If a problem, situation or reason to stop production arises along the way it is best to coordinate with the General Contractor or the job site foreman for expediant results to rectify the situation.
Whether you are adding a splash of color or giving your home a complete makeover the experience should be exciting and fulfilling. We invade your homes and take over your lives for sometimes a year at a time. Would it not be wonderful if we all parted as friends and could brag about our experience to others? It can, and obtaining your trust and building a lasting relationship is what all of our hard work and extra efforts are for.