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Now, I'm not trying to
scare you, but a proper emphasis on the preparation
before you embark on a house remodeling project is a good
idea. This topic is discussed quite a bit on the
National Association of House Builders' website.
So, it is important that
you allot enough time for a remodeling project, and be
sure you meet with your contractor and complete a
schedule of when you can expect your house remodel to be
done. Also, you need to secure the proper building
permits before construction is under way. Once these
initial steps are completed, have another meeting with
your contractor and set aside time for regular meeting,
whether by phone or in person. This will allow you to
keep on top of any issues and track your progress to
make sure everything is moving along according to the
predetermined schedule.
During these meetings,
you may also want to talk about any items that may need
to be custom ordered, as you may want to handle any
custom orders for your house remodel yourself. Be sure to
give enough time for the items to be ordered and
delivered, because there are instances where an item is
back-ordered, or if it is a custom item it may require
some production time (for it to be built).
Set some parameters for
the workers! This is something that most rarely think of
until it's too late.
For instance, you may
want to let them know whether it's ok to play the radio
during work hours. What kind of music do you tolerate?
How loud can they play the music?
How about parking? Are
there specific areas you need the workers to park their
vehicles? Are some areas off limits?
What about the use of
your facilities? Are they allowed to use your bathroom,
if so which one? Perhaps you would rather have the
construction company provide a portable toilet (this is
not recommended, but it is an option).
How about the use of your
phone? Do you allow smoking anywhere on your property?
As you can probably see,
it is definitely a good idea to discuss these things
before workers set foot on your property. This will
minimize any misunderstanding and reduce potential
conflict and arguments between the workers and
yourself...
Ok, so once you have this
out of the way you may also want to let your neighbors
know that you will be remodeling your house. It's a good
idea that you let them know what type of remodeling you
are doing (exterior, additions, interior etc.); how long
the remodel will last and the hours that the workers
will keep. You want to make sure you're not being a
nuisance to your neighbors with workers hammering away
on the exterior of your house at 8am in the morning. So
be sure to set some hours and that they all stick to it!
Having all of these
little things in place, and communicating with all
parties (including your neighbor, the contractor and/or
the workers) will expedite your project and allow for
better overall results.
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