Building or remodeling a house requires considerable investment of money, time and efforts. But apart from this, what shapes your dream for a perfect home is how well do you communicate with your contractor. After all, things won’t work out if one is talking red and other blue.
It is always better to ensure that you and your contractor are on the same page to avoid any sorts of misunderstandings later. On the first place, it is advisable to find a contractor who has worked on similar projects and always verify their work history through references. Few things that you must discuss with your contractor in advance are timeline for completion of the project, schedule for regular meetings, insurance for any damages caused during renovation or construction, about their labour insurance policy, etc.
Here are a few tips for improving communication between your contractor and you:
1. Provide reference pictures to clearly communicate what you need. Don’t just rely on verbal communication. Gather hints from magazines, brochures, websites, etc. You can also show videos for better articulation.
2. Set achievable completion dates.
3. Pre-schedule days for regular meetings with your contractor and keep a journal to record all the changes discussed in meetings. Note down all the ideas and the questions you need to ask the contractor.
4. Keep a check on the progress update by daily visiting the site and note down any quality concerns. Also, tally the receipts and invoices for the material or fixtures against their model numbers on a regular basis.
5. You are as accountable for the project to complete on time as your contractor. Make sure that you religiously follow and execute your part of the deal.
Besides the above tips, it is always beneficial to do your homework thoroughly and not blindly rely on the contractor. Always be available on call in the construction hours and discuss everything beforehand to avoid crisis.
Have a happy home!
