Renovations can be quite daunting especially when you have a million possibilities and choices to make. The best way to start is to engage a contractor who is supposed to help you in almost every part but before you head out and make your own decisions, make sure you know what your contractor is thinking so as to ensure the whole renovation process is smooth.
Your used items
– It is suppose to save you on cost without needing to buy all new items but your contractor would really like to be given the freedom to work with new purchases. After all, an old classic bedside table might stand out like a sore thumb.
Your contractor or designer is not out there to cheat you
Believe it or not, your contractor is not going all out to add more tasks so that they can charge you more. The fact is that they want to get your job over and done with faster so that they can take up other projects.
He is not interested in ‘your’ people
Engaging the contractor means entrusting him to form his own team. Once you ‘recommend’ your own plumber or electrician, you need to be ready for conflicts later. After all, he has his own set of people he works best with, do not disrupt that chemistry.
He is not a magician
While he is capable of doing a lot more than you imagine, don’t expect your contractor to weave his magic wand and get you a new level upstairs out of nothing.
Thoughts of you
Many think that contractors are afraid of perfectionists as they are too fussy and micro-manages everything but they actually like you to be just that. It is a lot better if you harp on them on what you want and how you like it instead of suing them and holding payment for delivery the wrong thing.
Get out
– Having said that, once they start work, it would be best if you get out and stay out of the house when they are working.
Keep these pointers handy
Contractor or Designer’s Expertise
Every contractor is an expert in some area. They can be experts in tiling, marbling, kitchen cabinets, toilet and drainage, electricity and wiring and such. It would be best to know what the contractor specializes in before appointing them. In most cases, they will have the tools to prove their claims. Never believe one who tells you he can do ‘everything’.
Professionalism
Contractors should be professional enough to let you decide on what you want. They should not try and push every idea to you. They should allow you to buy your own material like cement, bricks, wood and tiles because their job is to get the fittings done. Contractors who insist on buying all the materials are usually those who want to earn more from you.
Timeframe
Find a contractor who agrees to your timeline as long as they are not too demanding. If they cannot complete it on time, they will tell you beforehand and not make any empty promises and mislead you in terms of the schedule.