Tips on how to get along with your contractor

Sharing is caring!

Hiring a contractor for a new home is a big decision. Follow these tips on how to get along with your contractor so it goes smoothly.

Hiring a contractor is a big decision. You’re entrusting someone with your home and possibly your family’s safety. It’s essential to make sure you’re selecting the best person for the job. So how do you go about getting the best work from your contractor? Follow these tips on getting along with your contractor and make the home-building process enjoyable!

Draw Out a Well-Defined Contract 

Setting parameters is the first step to a successful project and relationship with your contractor. The contract should outline the expectations for the work, the timeline it should be done, and the payment schedule. 

Avoid Conflict

The more detailed your contract is, the less likely you will encounter many problems. A good contract is the best way to start on a good foot. With a detailed contract, you will be able to put things in there that help you avoid conflict, such as what to do if there is a delay on the contractor’s fault vs. your fault.

Be Clear About Your Expectations 

From the beginning, you need to do whatever you can to help your contractor understand your vision. Be clear and concise with your explanations, and draw out or show pictures of similar examples of what you are expecting your outcome to be like. 

Included in the New Home Construction WorkBook is a Canva Design Board Template that you can use to make sure the finishes you choose all coordinate and can be used to show the contractor!

Talk It Out

Let your contractor discuss each detail with you to make sure he/she understands and also to discuss the different possibilities. Sometimes an experienced contractor will actually help you come up with even a better plan than you thought you had. They know what materials work together, so keeping communication open and asking for input will go far.

Maintain a Professional Relationship with your builder

If your contractor is a very personable guy, it might be hard to not get buddy-buddy with him. You should, however, maintain a professional demeanor at all times. This will help when it comes time to make tough decisions, point out mistakes, and if you need to stand your ground on any disagreements. It could also very well help you avoid getting taken advantage of.

How to Convey what you want to your contractor 

Your relationship with your contractor can only be as effective and successful as the two of you are willing to make it. Getting what you want out of your project is probably just as important to your contractor as it is to you, so knowing how to convey your wants and needs is one of the most important factors in your relationship. It can sometimes be difficult to really know how to voice your needs effectively enough.

Be Clear and Concise 

An effective relationship with your contractor starts with good communication. Do not expect your contractor to be able to read your mind and automatically know what you want and how you want it. There are so many tiny little details to any given project that you may have never considered before, so be as detailed as possible when describing what you want to your contractor. If don’t know the lingo, it’s okay. Explain things to your contractor in your own words.

Be Patient

No matter how much you describe something to another person, they might not always see exactly what you have in mind, especially if your idea is a little outside the box. Be patient with your contractor as you are describing what you want, and remember that they are likely doing their very best to recreate your vision. 

Give the Contractor a Chance

If the stain on your kitchen cabinets isn’t just right, calmly explain what it is that needs to be changed and give him/her a chance to fix the issue before you get upset. Assume that they want to do it right, and don’t get upset before you need to.

Show Examples

Sometimes a verbal explanation just isn’t enough to give a clear impression of what you want. In that case, come armed with some examples. 

• Visual Aids Will Help: Find photos in books or on the Internet that look similar to what you are looking for, and make notations about how your idea differs from the pictures. Sometimes drawing an idea out can help too. And of course, my fave is to show them my Pinterest boards or my Houzz account! Even though my husband was my contractor and I had sent him a MILLION Pinterest examples, I still went and hung up printed-off examples of what I wanted the area to look like so there would be no confusion!

• Talk It Out: If you are not artistically inclined enough to draw your idea effectively, sit down with your contractor and see if they can draw out your vision enough to make sure they understand what you are looking for.

Give them a chance to repeat back to you what they understand. You’re going to be happier taking this extra time to ensure clarity.

Watch the Progress

As your project progresses, watch it come together. You will be better able to make corrections or be able to show the contractor what to fix than when the entire project is finished. You’ll be able to notice the wrong stain or the wrong materials if you’re watching.

Don’t Micromanage

There’s a fine line between being present and micromanaging. Don’t make yourself a nuisance. Just be present, or ask your contractor for regular updates so you can make sure the project is coming along as you envisioned. You can inadvertently extend the time it takes to finish your project if you micromanage, thus increasing the cost.

Any given project is going to have so many details that it can be hard to describe what you want with enough detail. Just the way a cabinet is painted, for example, can have so many variations — with the grain, flat, distressed, and so on. The possibilities are nearly infinite, and so it is important to convey what you want to the very best of your ability. Just remember to be patient, as clear and detailed as possible, and you should be able to effectively let your contractor know exactly what you want.

How to tell your Contractor you are not happy 

If you are not happy with the work your contractor has done, it is important to let them know as soon as possible. Trying to wait until the job is finished to complain is only going to lead to more problems. Expressing your concerns early on will give your contractor a chance to correct the issue and make things right. If you are not comfortable speaking with your contractor directly, you can always contact their supervisor or the company’s customer service department. Whatever you do, don’t just ignore the problem – that will only make things worse.

Read: What to do when your Contractor is taking too long

Understanding why Contractors take such a long time

How your contractor tells or keeps track of time can be a huge factor in the success or at least the timeliness of whatever project you have hired them for. It might seem a silly concept to ask a contractor exactly “how” they tell time, but getting a clear understanding of how they track the time on the job can save you a headache later in the game. 

Questions or concepts to consider when hiring a contractor:

How does he/she track the comings and goings of employees, assistants, and other workers? 

Do they have some sort of time sheet or other tracking information to keep up with how much time is spent on each job?

Does your contractor have a projected plan/schedule of the days and times he or she will be at your home working? 

This information will not only help you get an idea of how long a project may take, but it will also give you a heads up as far as how much your own life will be uprooted as people come in and out of your home.

Does he or she have a set outline of the projected start and end dates for the project?

A good estimate should always be included in your contract. Keep in mind that sometimes more time could be needed to ensure the best outcome, but a rough idea is necessary. 

If you are not currently living at the place being worked on, how will you know when they are there working and how much time they are spending on your project? 

You want to be sure that your project is being completed in a timely manner, after all, and progress updates are always helpful.

Does your contractor have any other major projects occupying his or her time at the same time they are working on your project? 

If so, how will they effectively split time between the two projects? This is important because you do not want your contractor to be distracted or overworked in such a way that will affect the outcome and timeliness of your own project.

Do you understand the timing and other important factors of your project? 

The timing of a renovation or other home improvement project can often vary. There are many factors that can affect the timing of a project, including problems that may push out a deadline or time estimate. These factors can really affect how well your contractor can estimate a good end date for your project.

Some factors that can affect the timing of a construction project are:

• Weather and Other “acts of God”
• Issues with Getting Supplies
• Other Workers or Specialists
• Accidents
• Other Unforeseen Events
• Additions Made by You

There are many factors to consider when deciding how quickly a project should be completed, or how to measure the timing of a project. Discuss these issues with your contractor before hiring them, and make sure that some guidelines for timing are included in your contract. You need to know how your contractor tracks time, their estimate for the timing of your project, and what they intend to do in the event of a delay.

How to deal with an unresponsive contractor 

It can be incredibly frustrating when you’re dealing with a contractor who is unresponsive. Maybe they’re not returning your calls, or maybe they keep pushing back your project start date. Whatever the reason, it’s important to take action and get things moving again. 

How to lose a great contractor 

Finding a truly great contractor can be hard enough, you really don’t want to do anything to lose them. There is a pretty clear defined line between maintaining a professional relationship and being rude, for example. While you certainly don’t want to get taken advantage of by anyone, you also shouldn’t want to treat someone badly so that they are the ones running for the hills.

Here are some other common ways to lose a great contractor, and quickly:

Unrealistic Expectations

You have a vision for the outcome of your project, and you are excited about it, which is very understandable. But, it’s easy to end up with unrealistic expectations about the final results if you don’t understand the time, cost, and effort it takes to achieve what you desire. 

Don’t Just Talk, Listen: When you are talking to your contractor(s), be clear about your expectations, but also listen to their professional opinion about what is possible and what is not. If you have chosen well, then you can trust them to tell you what they think.

Be Realistic: Realize that if you add on work or expect workers to get there early and stay late, you will be expected to pay for it. If you are expecting stellar work in half the time for half the price, be ready to see your contractor walk. Bring your expectations down just a tad so that your contractor can work with you.

Working with a contractor should make your project go smoothly, but that will only work if you do your due diligence.

Skipping Vital Steps

It’s bad enough when some contractors want to cut corners, but it can be worse when the homeowners are the ones trying to push for it. If you have a good contractor, they likely have a certain way of doing things and they are going to expect you to understand and abide by this as well. They also know the laws and regulations, and if something is not legal, they’ll tell you.

Not Being Thankful

A good contractor is not going to risk his or her reputation so that you can save a few bucks or time; they are going to be mostly concerned with doing the best work, as they should. You should too. If they tear open a wall, and find electrical work that needs to be done then you’re going to have to get it done. Be thankful they caught it and aren’t the type of contractors who will just cover up problems.

Micromanaging

Stopping by the project site, doing daily inspections of the work as it happens, and asking questions when they come up are very important for an effective contractor relationship. It can help ensure that corners are not cut and that the best work is done. However, there is a fine line between being present and micromanaging. 

Over Doing It

No one, including your contractor, wants someone looking over their shoulder and commenting on or correcting every move they make. Your contractor is the professional here, and you should let them work. He or she likely has no issue with questions, routine inspections, or even the odd surprise visit, but don’t micromanage your contractor. 

Refusing To Be Flexible

In every project, big or small, there will be hang-ups. 

Stuff Happens: Inclement weather, accidents, supply back orders, and other unforeseen circumstances will likely happen. This can mean that timelines might need to be increased, or allowances might need to be made with the budget. 

Be Prepared

Every homeowner should have a buffer for this type of occurrence and should expect it. However, if you refuse to be flexible on any part of the contract from the beginning through the end, you could lose more than just a week or two on your timeline. 

You and your contractor can potentially have a very effective and productive relationship. However, that relationship depends not only on your contractor’s behavior and work, but also on your own. If you behave poorly and are difficult to work with, you better bet you could lose a great contractor.

Download our Home Construction Checklist Workbook to help you stay on task with your contractor!