Working with Countertop and Cabinet Contractors

There's nothing worse than hiring a countertop or cabinet contractor to come to your home, and them forcing them to take the risk of moving things for you. Though many contractors are happy to help you in any way, it's rude to make them participate in activities they aren't hired for, thereby making it a liability for them.

You hired these professionals expecting that they will arrive on the job with the proper tools and materials, but it doesn't hurt to help them out with the smaller things. Have rags or old washcloths and towels available for them. Create a space for them to work, both inside and out. Make sure there is a place where they can wash things off, whether it is an outside hose or your own kitchen sink (though this could be a problem for countertop contractors, since the sink may be removed or turned off). By giving them these minor tools, they will be able to clean up after themselves more easily, and it will help the job go faster. Also, these are people working hard for you, and though they are getting paid for it, it doesn't hurt to offer your countertop or cabinet contractor some relief during the day.

Give them a few glasses of water or iced tea if it's hot outside. If they are driving out to your house in the middle of winter, offer them a cup of coffee during their breaks. Plus, they're going to get hungry, and though they of course brought their own meals with them, it doesn't hurt to give them warm food or maybe a dessert you made the night before. You don't have to go overboard and don't make it harder than it has to be, but even little things like allowing the contractors to use your home bathroom will make the jobsite feel more comfortable, and it also helps to create a friendlier relationship between you and the contractor.

During the Project
Although some people prefer to be home during the renovation, do whatever makes you feel most comfortable. If you're at ease, the contractors will be as well, and therefore the entire project will run much smoother. Some countertop and cabinet contractors don't like it when the homeowner is breathing down their necks, and though it is your right as a homeowner since you are the one who hired them, it may best to ask. Simply by inquiring into what the contractor prefers, the relationship will be much improved. They may even want you to stick around in case questions are brought up about how to proceed. However, you shouldn't feel obligated to stick around and hover. It makes people nervous. Plus, you hired these professionals based off of trust, and if you've acquired them from a pre-screened service provider, you shouldn't have to worry about leaving the home while they do the job.

One Last Countertop and Cabinet Contractor Tip
Cabinet contractors aren't just hired help or public laborers. They are people; people you have invited to be in your home. So treat them as such. They're not special houseguests so you don't have to give them the royal treatment, but giving a compliment when one is deserved and talking over a problem instead of overreacting will help the contractors feel acknowledged, and will therefore ultimately help the finished product.