March 9, 2006 Issue                                               

©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

7 tips toward a better relationship with your remodeling contractor

During a typical remodel, a homeowner’s temper can flare, with the addition of the dust, noise and of having a crew working in the home for most of the day.

The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) offers homeowners some pointers on how maintain a good relationship with their remodeling contractors during a home remodel. A first-rate remodeling contractor will often anticipate many of these points and prepare a homeowner for what’s ahead.

“The key to a good homeowner-contractor relationship is open communication,” said NARI President Paul Winans, “start a dialogue over issues you have, no matter how small you think they are. Chances are the problem can be overcome.”

These tips will make life during a home remodel a little easier:

• Before work begins, sit down with your contractor and discuss details that will affect your daily routine. For example, ask that the workers do not block the driveway without checking whether the homeowner’s car is out of the garage. Also, find out what their schedule will be so you know what to expect, and if the schedule falls behind, be sure to ask why to keep that line of communication open.

• From day one, be honest with your contractor about your expectations. Open communication establishes trust and is the basis of a good working relationship. Discuss problems or irritations as they occur so you and your contractor can devise alternative solutions.

• Be sure to let your contractor know if you are planning a vacation or business trip so they can make their own schedule. If you decide to let them work while you are away, give them a phone number so they can reach you in case there is a question.

• Allow plenty of time for your project, keeping in mind that delays due to weather, material shortage or other problems cannot be predicted ahead of time.

• Remove your personal property from the construction areas, and declare all work zones off limits to children and pets.

• Always put changes in writing, especially if the plans are modified while the work is being done. Have both parties agree on the changes and sign a written copy of them before the work begins. And remember, changes will often cause delays, so if you decide a change is in order, be patient with the extended timeline.

• Keep all paperwork related to the job in one place so that if there are any questions on the plans, you have an easy reference for clarification.

And remember, be patient and keep your mind on the end result. In due time you’ll be cooking your first meal in your new kitchen or soaking in your new bath, and you will have forgotten the noise and dust, and you can relax in your newly remodeled home.

NARI is a national professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics, www.RemodelToday.com.