Working with Home Addition Contractors

Contractor Etiquette
A good rule to use with any contractor is if they are working outside, as in building a deck or installing siding, then you do not have to offer them use of your home. But if they are working inside, interior painting or installing new flooring, for example, it is polite to offer them the use of your facilities. Of course, if someone is putting on a new roof, you can let them use your restroom and get water from the facet. These are just guidelines that most homeowners follow with contractors. But you do what you think is best for the situation.

Home Addition Professionals
Some home additions only require a door to be cut out of an existing wall. Some home additions tear down existing walls. I mention this to illustrate that the general guidelines might become hazy about contractors working indoors or out. My suggestion is to accommodate your home addition contractors as best you can. At minimum allow them the use of a bathroom. If they have to stop work and drive somewhere to use the facilities every time nature calls, it will only slow down the entire project. It is the minimum of courtesies, and really not that much to offer to people who are bettering your home.

The Ideal Client
If you want to go out of your way with your home addition professionals, have coffee ready for them in the morning. You will be hard-pressed to find contractors who aren't on a steady coffee drip all day, and providing hot, fresh coffee is another small token that is likely to score big with your contractors. If they are working weekends, be sure to have something for them to eat, or just something a little extra that lets them know that you appreciate them working those extra days to finish your project sooner. Order a few pizzas, bagels, donuts or some sandwiches. Just imagine how pleased you would be if you were a contractor.

Handling the Days When No One Shows Up
It's bound to happen that some of the contractors get sick or have vacation time or another project that demands their attention. This will most likely upset you, as most people find it strange and often unacceptable that their project is seemingly being ignored. It is a good idea to sit down with your home addition contractor before the project begins to see if he has any other scheduling conflicts that might interfere with your project. Of course, emergencies always happen, but if you are someone who will not being able to stand one day without your project advancing, then you might talk with your contractor and have him let you know if he is going to be gone and why.

The Rules of Your Home
This is your house, and you have certain rules that you might want contractors to follow. Maybe you don't allow cussing in the house or you don't want the home addition professionals to work Sundays, weekends, past 5pm or before 7am. Just know that your imposed rules might slow down the project, but if these are your principles, then it is completely understandable that you would want to stick to them. You need to inform your contractors of these rules before construction begins.

Punch Lists
If you are the highly-organized type, you might want to use a punch list. Most home addition contractors will most likely do this anyway. A punch list is the slate of all aspects of a project, and it is exists so that you and the contractors can cross them off and date them as they are completed. This also gives you a chance to check if the work has been done to your liking, and if something is not right, this is the time to speak up. Also, if something has been done correctly, but now that you see it you no longer want that, a change order can then be started.