Preparing Yourself for a Home Renovation Project

A couple of weeks ago, I gave a presentation along with a home contractor to a group of professionals. The contractor, Paul Monaco, brought up a number of terrific points about the effect that a home renovation project has on one's household. So, in no specific order:

1. Be ready to have your life turned upside down. Doing renovation work in your home is very disruptive.

2. Do not put in a new lawn or beautiful new shrubs just prior to putting in an addition. Assume that your landscaping is going to get ripped up.

3. Prepare to eat off paper plates and wash your dishes in the bathtub or a temporary slop sink.

4. Understand that different workers will come and leave at different hours.

5. Do not count on workers to arrive on a daily basis. For example, a plumber may need to attend to an emergency and put off work at your home for a day.

6. Unforseen events may occur. Weather may interfere with the progress of your project. In addition, there may be hidden defects that must be addressed. A recent change in the building code in Massachusetts is also placing new demands on contractors and there may be more work involved to bring your project up to code.

7. Communicate, communicate, communicate. Keep the lines of communication open and many problems will be prevented.

By the way, this is my 100th posting!

Comments

Anonymous said…
Very good points. Especially about communication with the contractor, and any workers. I'll add that when communicating with ANYONE working on your project -- make sure they have the authority to speak with you -- especially if they are agreeing to make any changes to the project, commit to a certain time frame, or otherwise negotiate any point of the contract.

"Get it in writing" can not be emphasized enough. I have heard to many horror stories from homeowners, (and contractors), where a job goes sour because of miscommunication, (and at times outright lies). If a contractor promises to "throw it in" (for the already agreed price), ask if they mind signing something that shows that the work or materials they "threw in" were included in the project.

Finding a reputable contractor is also a key factor. While a friend, relative or neighbor may suggest someone who will "give you a deal", sometimes these aren't the best people for YOUR job. Looking for a contractor? Please visit my webiste, www.New-England-Contractor.com for screened, verified contractors, construction news, and related info.
4:03 PM
Clipping path Help Zone said…
Thanks for the lovely posts, Will miss the blogs but hope you return.
clipping path
8:53 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Worker's Compensation Information Available Online At the Massachusetts Department of Labor Website

Image
Mark Paskell first posted this at his blog,  http://www.thecontractorcoachingpartnership.com/Blog-Contractor-Coaching--Construction-Business-Coach-EPA-RRP-Lead-Rule/ , but I think it is so important that I wanted to post here as well.  Make sure all of your contractors have worker's compensation policies if they have employees.  If not, you may be held accountable if someone gets injured on the job.  Bravo to the government of MA for making this information available to the public. Here is a brief excerpt from the Massachusetts Department of Labor website;                                       Patrick - Murray Administration Launches  Free Web-Based Tool Will help Public Verify if Businesses have Workers Compensation Insurance Policy Boston, MA - The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development (EOLWD) today announced the launch of the Massachusetts Online Proof of Coverage Application (POC), a free web-based   tool that will assist the public in verifying whether a particu
Read more

Terminating the Contract-The Homeowner

When can a homeowner terminate a contract? That should be determined by the contract, but if it is not, the law in your state will govern. However, one should also use some common sense to decide when the time has come. If the contractor has stopped showing up, then he has abandoned the job, and the homeowner has the right to mitigate damages by hiring someone else to finish the work. If the contractor has failed to pull permits, or done something illegal, or blatantly in violation of the contract (substituting inferior materials, for example), the homeowner does not have to stand by and accept it. What about when the homeowner just isn't happy with the work? That is a more tricky issue. Some homeowners have unrealistic expectations about what things should cost, or are not understanding when an unforseen problem arises. Homeowners should voice their concerns to the contractor and give him a chance to address the issue. If after numerous attempts at repair the problem continu
Read more