Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s
Do-have a budget in mind that YOU CAN LIVE WITH
-like we talked about before, asking about your budget isn’t a trick question designed to spend all of your money - it’s a clarifying and bracketing question to make sure both you and the contractor are at least in the same ballpark when it comes to the total cost of the project.
Do-ask questions
-please ask questions - lots of questions -its ok to ask questions when you aren’t clear about something or you don’t understand something. We (contractors) prefer you to ask questions until you understand instead of remaining confused and that confusion growing into frustration. We understand that you don’t live in our world.
Do-be honest with your contractor
-most people are honest - however people have been given bad information by TV and other media that many contractors are out to rip people off and take advantage of old people. This simply isn’t true. By withholding information from your contractor (budget, fears, concerns, frustrations, etc..) you are in reality harming your project. Simply be honest with your budget and all of your concerns.
Do-have a clear idea of what you want to do and why you want to do it
-make lists, take pictures, use Pinterest - Instagram and other apps to get ideas - we LOVE that! Why are you remodeling? Do you need more room for all the grandkids? Is it time for your dream kitchen or bathroom? Did you buy the home knowing the kitchen didn’t meet your needs because you love to cook and host parties and it’s time to put in a kitchen that lets you show off your mad cooking skills? Have a stove or shower in mind that you just must have? We want to know what that stove or shower is! We want to know all the details!
Do-be ready to make decisions
-there will be so many decisions! Remodeling your kitchen? Lets run down the decisions in an average kitchen remodel:
-keep the same floor plan or change, new flooring, cabinets, what size upper cabinets, glass doors, cabinet hardware, paint or stain finish, countertop, backsplash, refrigerator, stove, microwave, under cabinet lighting, room lighting, pantry, shelving, trim, paint color, sink, sink faucet, range hood, island or not, add outlets, outlet color, and more!!
Do-communicate clearly
-your contractor will likely have a way of communicating that fits into their systems, maybe it’s email, texting or a phone call - some have even gone to an online portal you can use to send messages and keep up to date on the progress of your project. Whatever the medium of communication is, be sure to use it and clearly communicate with your contractor - even if it’s frustration. Definitely let them know when you’re happy and excited, but don’t be afraid to communicate questions, fears, concerns and more.
Do-expect the saying “You get what you pay for” to be true
-most contractors of similar skill and quality will be close in cost. However when you see a price that is significantly higher or lower - there’s a reason for that larger difference. A higher price could mean that the contractor is purposefully pricing themselves out of the job or it could mean that they made an error or even that they have a minimum job size that they are able to accept. On the other hand an price that is significantly lower could mean that the contractor is new and inexperienced, they might be using cheap materials and labor or that they are baiting and switching with a low price to win the job and plan on asking for more money once they get started.
Do-be prepared for the unexpected
-all good contractors go into a job with a plan. It may be a design for a new kitchen for bathroom or a full set of blueprints for an addition or new home. Plans change. Designs change. A contractor with good systems will be able to minimize the impact of the unexpected happening, but nothing can eliminate the unexpected. So, be prepared.
Do-hire a professional, credentialed, licensed and insured contractor
-how do you know what license you contractor has and if it’s valid and active? In Tennessee you can go to verify.TN.gov. Every state will have a way you can verify the licensing of a contractor if you do an online search, you’ll find it. In Tennessee there are nine counties that require a special license to do work up to $24,999.00 and that license requires that the contractor perform the work themselves and does not allow them to “Sub” out portions of the work to other trades thus acting as a general contractor. There are some design companies and cabinet supply companies that will perform remodeling jobs of substantial size. Make sure that these companies are licensed and insured to do this type of work.
Do-ask to see proof of the contractors license and insurance.
If they can’t show proof, that should be a red flag. Just so we’re clear, by license I don’t mean a business license. Thats not good enough. If the contractor is required by the state, city or county to be licensed to perform their trade then they will have proof to show you. They will have been required to take classes and pass a test and /or be bonded and carry insurance. This information should be easily accessible to show clients if requested.
Do-avoid websites and publications that have a negative bias against the contractor.
They might say things like “how to control your contractor”, “keep your contractor on a short leash”, or other dialogue or terms that almost pit you against your contractor. Also avoid websites from people or organizations OUTSIDE of the trades that tell you how a contractor should run their business. Even well intentioned consumer protection groups and real estate professionals have provided terrible and inaccurate information that ultimately caused difficulty and conflict between contractors and clients.
Don’ts
Don’t-call more than three contractors
-this goes back to “trust your gut” - If you call more than three contractors you’re going to begin to be overwhelmed with information, different suggestions, approaches, methods and more. Remember to compare apples to apples and interview each contractor in the same manner.
Don’t-believe everything you read on the internet
-I found this quote online and it was attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Just because a fact or tip on “How to hire , deal with, choose a contractor” is published online doesn’t make it true. Look at the source. Are they a contractor? Do they have experience in the industry? Where did they get their information? Are they simply writing an article to sell Ad space and provide content? NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) and the HBA (National Home Builders Association) are two great resources for accurate and reliable information for both consumers and contractors.
Don’t-expect home improvement TV shows to equal real life
-when I give this talk in person I always joke and say (as I point to myself) “This is what a contractor looks like! I’m not an actor hired to play a contractor on TV!” The comment is always met with laughter so I’m not sure how to take that! Your project won't run or look like home improvement TV.
Don’t-expect a bargain
- typically a bargain price is achieved by either a reduction in the quality of materials used, or skills involved. On more rare occasions, a bargain price is found by using a one man show with a helper as his business overhead may be less so he can do the work for a lower price - but this isn’t always the case. Right now, in the time we live in. April of 2022 - cabinet costs have gone up over 35% in the last 12 months! Most every other item involved in remodeling has increased in cost a minimum of 20% all the way up to an increase of over 100%!
Don’t-micro manage or be “in the way” while your contractor and trades are working for you
-I once had a client that took a full week of vacation so they could be home to “help”. They wouldn’t allow me to start without them in the morning and micro managed every step of the process during that week. Now this was years ago when I was new in the trades and had to take almost every job that came along. I would handle things much differently today. It’s not that we are trying to conceal or hide anything from our clients, we just want to get our work done and many of the tasks involved in a remodel have to be done in a specific order and manner and if we are being distracted, watched and distracted we could miss a step. The power tools we use can literally be deadly if we get distracted while using them. The best way to interact with your contractor is to ask them how they would like to be communicated with and then use that medium. Its generally ok to greet them in the morning, say hi, ask a few questions and then let them get on with their day. Remember this is a collaborative process. Collaborate when needed - otherwise, let your contractor and trades work - you’re paying them to do the work for you! Imagine if while you were working you had your client standing over you, asking questions, maybe critiquing how you were doing a task, offering to help and interrupting your train of thought. We love our clients, we just don’t want them in the way while we’re working.
Don’t-wait till the end of the project to talk about frustrations and problems
-letting your frustrations pile up until the end of the project is definitely NOT the way to communicate effectively with your client. Use the method you and your contractor deduced on at the start of the project and express any frustrations, issues or questions you may have. If you’ve been assigned a project manager or foreman and you aren’t getting satisfaction, then contact your salesperson or the office of the company if they are structured that way. If you’re working with a one man show, then clearly and politely express that you still have concerns and questions and that you would like to schedule a time where you could sit down and go over your list of questions more in depth.
Don’t-expect perfection
- contractors and their employees or subs are human - they’re dealing with other humans in a supply chain challenged and labor shortage world, homes and materials are imperfect - expect professionalism, but not perfection
Don’t-cut corners or use sub-standard products to squeeze more out of your budget
-I like to use plumbing fixtures as an example for this point. In most cases the plumbing fixtures you’ll find a big box stores and hardware stores will look identical to those fixtures found in plumbing specialty shops. On the outside they may be identical. Its on the inside where the difference can be found. Typically plumbing fixtures sold at plumbing speciality shops have much more brass and other high quality and durable materials on the inside. Fixtures sold at big box stores will often substitute plastic to make them sellable at a lower price point. Most often choosing a lower cost item will give you a lower quality item and although you might not notice the difference right away, it is over time you’ll see the difference in maintenance and repair costs or even needing to totally replace that item sooner rather than later. Cabinets at a lower price point may have cheaper hinges and reaper slides, drawers that aren’t dove-tailed, a thinner box (1/2 inch or particle board VS 3/4 inch plywood) and a less durable paint or stain finish.
