Do’s and Don’ts for Homeowners During Active Construction
Here are some suggestions to consider while your project is underway that could help you to have a positive experience of the process.
DO communicate effectively with your GC at all stages of your project.
DON’T hesitate to ask questions of your GC. Do not bottle up your resentment, fear or frustration. More often than not any stress you are experiencing on the project will arise out of poor communication. Being uninformed is very stressful, as are misunderstandings or inconsistent expectations. If you only focus on one of the following aspects, communication is the most important.
DO show appreciation for everyone working on your project.
DON’T make assumptions about the people working on your project. You never know who the boss’s son is or who is an inspector’s nephew. Treat everyone with respect regardless of your assumptions about their status in the company or perceived status.
DO pay your bill on time and quickly. If you have a fixed price contract with progress payments, you will not be billed until a stage of the work is completed. Contractors need to pay their guys and subcontractors and will have purchased materials for the work completed during the previous phase. Construction is expensive for everyone involved. Contractors have huge expenses and rely on getting paid right away.
DON’T withhold payment from your contractor without explanation. If you have concerns or questions about your bill, the best thing to do is to communicate as quickly as possible with your contractor. If you feel there is an error with your bill, speak up. It could be an honest mistake. The amount of paperwork associated with construction is massive. If you decide to withhold or delay payment, you will only create bad will and prevent your contractor from doing a good job for you. Read your contract for your contractor’s recourse if you withhold payment. You do not want to set up an adversarial relationship with your contractor, so whatever you do, communicate and pay your bill.
DO communicate any changes you or your designers make to the plans and specifications. Builders, while smart, are not mind readers, and need to be informed of any changes right away.
DON’T keep changes to yourself because you fear how much the change will cost. Speak up as soon as you know the change so you can get a price for the change and work on a plan to make the change in the timeliest and least expensive manner.
DO maintain good, professional boundaries with your contractor. Depending on the length and scope of your project, he is likely someone you will develop a good working relationship with, and you will all be involved with for several months. Maintain a good relationship with him and all the workers on your project.
DON’T look at your contractor as your therapist. He is there to build your project, not to fix your marriage or listen to your problems. He wants to solve problems related to construction and not get bogged down in stuff he can’t fix.
DO remember that the noisy part of construction, i.e., demolition and framing, will come to an end. These are temporary phases. They do not last for the duration of the project.
DON’T panic when you hear loud noises or demolition sounds. This is completely normal. Construction is very noisy at times. It can also be very messy and dusty. Don’t freak out; construction dust is normal and inevitable. If it seems excessive, ask your contractor to double up on the dust protection and plan to book a professional cleaning crew at the end of the project.
DO be aware that there might not be work going on every minute of every day at your property. Sometimes the guys have to go get materials, other times the plaster may be drying, still other times the tile guy is waiting for the tile to set. If it worries you, ask.
DON’T assume that people are flaking out or that your job is suddenly behind schedule. There may be a really good reason why someone isn’t at your site at a particular time or when you expected them to be there. You may have become used to a certain amount of activity and not realized that the job had entered a new (perhaps less noisy) phase. Contractors will build some cushion into the schedule for down days. Contractors have a lot going on and will not be able to communicate every detail of the project to you.
DO remain calm if you have an issue or concern. I guarantee you it will get worked out especially if you relied on your intuition when you chose your contractor, leaned on your support system, spoke up right away if something bothered you, trusted your GC and his subcontractor’s choices, asked for clarification, understood the phases of construction and where the project is in the process. Keep in mind that construction is at times a bumpy road, but it is ultimately a wonderful and rewarding experience which, after it is all over, you will miss.
DON’T freak out!
Also read: Do’s and Don’ts During Pre-Construction
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