Communicating Effectively with Your Contractor
Whether you are getting your home remodeled, or are undergoing a huge landscaping project on the side of your home, there is a good chance that you will have a project, at some point, where you need to hire out a contractor.
This is such a common part of being a homeowner in today’s society, that it’s astonishing how many people are so bad at it. As with every type of transaction or professional relationship (any relationship, really), the key is always communication.
Here are some tips to keep in mind for how to communicate with a contractor, so that when you hire one, you can get the best work from the best people…
Ask the best way to keep in touch
First of all, you need to set up the proper lines of communication. This means asking them how they prefer to communicate and when the right times to do so might be.
Most contractors will give you their cell phone number, as they want to make sure that you are going to them about any issues that they have. Ask whether they prefer to call or text, and if there are any hours when they would prefer you not to do so.
At the same time, tell them your preferences about the same things.
Be detailed about what you want
With any house project, the devil is always in the details. The results of this project are going to be something that you have to live with for quite some time, so don’t be afraid to get nitty and gritty when you are describing what you want.
Ideally, you should have some pictures and research that you can show to the contractor so that they have a clear vision about what you are looking for.
This part of the process is all about getting on the same page, so that there are less headaches for the both of you, later on.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions
The worst mistake that you could make, when communicating with your contractor, is being afraid to ask questions. Even if it might seem tedious, you should ask every question that comes to your mind, especially if it comes to work being done on your home that you have to live with for years.
If you are curious about whether there are any complications about what you are asking, or if there is any part of the project that could change to save you money, or anything at all, don’t be the least bit afraid to ask.
Sure, they’ve probably heard these questions hundreds of times, but they owe it to you, the customer, to answer those questions.
Also, this helps them get a better understanding of what you want, which means that they are going to have less changes to do at the end of the project, which is something that they’ll gladly take.
Communicate, regularly
During the course of the project, don’t expect to just hand them the keys and then wait until the project is finished. If it is an ongoing home project, then you want to make sure that you are communicating with them, regularly, so that both of you can continue to make sure that you are righting the course.
If you wait until they are finished to get an update, or to check on their work and talk about it, then it is going to be far more complicated to make the changes that you might inevitably want.
Listen to their expertise
This is a big one: you need to listen. Communicating with contractors isn’t just about making sure that they understand you, but also that you are understanding them.
There is a reason that you are hiring an expert to do this job, so listen to their expertise. When they tell you that the way you want something done might not be the best way, or that it might lead to unintended consequences, then you should listen and brainstorm with them to come up with a better solution.
Listening to your contractors will give you a much better project, overall, in the end.
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Category: Home Improvements
