Wouldn't it be great if you could just sign the contract, hand over the keys, and have the job done ahead of schedule with no follow-though required on your part? Unfortunately, you almost always have to be pretty involved in the renovation in order to get the best result. Here's how to do it:

▪ Organization Tip: If you are being your own General Contractor, keep an expandable folder (“redwell”) with individual folders inside for each trade. For example, I have an expandable folder for each house that I’m working on, and inside are manila folders labeled “Plumbing”, “Electricity”, etc.

▪ There is no substitute for being on the job site! While you are there, check for things that you won’t be able to see after they are covered up. Examples:

-Is the proper R-value (thickness) of the insulation being installed?

-Is the insulation covering the entire space it needs to cover?

-Are electrical outlets phone/cable jacks going exactly where you want them.

-Being on the job-site allows you to ensure that the contractors are not walking away with any of the surplus materials that belong to you (i.e., extra 2x4’s or drywall screws).

-Check the measurements of the framing to make sure that everything is going where you want it to go. Have your tape measure handy.

-Being on the job-site allows you to confirm that the job is moving along steadily and on schedule. Contractors work faster when the owner is around.

-Check the safety of the job-site for tripping hazards, hazardous materials, or high areas that need a temporary security railing to keep visitors from falling.

-Check that the site is being kept clean at the end of the day. Also check that the noise level is under control and is not bothering your neighbors.

▪ This is an important technique to keep the job moving quickly: Ask your Contractor what work is going to be done next and when he expects it to be done. Check to be sure that it will be done on schedule and if it isn’t, ask the Contractor about it.

▪ Photograph the walls before they are covered up with the boards of drywall. That way, you can see if any jacks have been covered up, and you will know the positions of the electrical and plumbing elements for future reference.

▪ Check the smoothness of the drywall before and after painting. Put your head close to the wall and look along the length of it while shining a flashlight on it. This will enable you to see any bumps on the surface that need to be smoothed out. Mark the areas with a pencil or with colored masking tape.

▪ If you are being your own general contractor and expect to use the subcontractors on other occasions, I find that the best policy is to use gratitude and appreciation instead of a lot of praise. I find that excessive praise of a job well done tends to drive my prices up. Again, there's nothing wrong with expressions of sincere gratitude and appreciation. My prices go up when the Contractor feels indispensable!

▪ Test floors and subfloors before they are covered with carpet/hardwoods/tile to make sure that they don't squeak! If they do, then the Contractor can screw them down tighter. Ideally, you want the subfloors to be "screwed and glued" to the floor joists anyway. I would specify this in the contract.

▪ I like to call my Contractors first thing in the morning (around 7am). They are usually too busy to talk later in the day and may not hear the phone ringing on the job site.

▪ If I have an appointment to meet a Contractor, I always call to confirm the meeting. "Are we still on?"

You wouldn't believe how many times you will be "stood up" if you do not call to remind.

▪ When the project is nearly finished, check for cracks or holes in walls inside of the cabinets or behind mirrors. These need to be closed up for insulation and pest control purposes.

Dealing with Contractors, General Contractors, Subcontractors - Part 2

Former builder and instructor of "Save Time and Money in Home Remodeling" cont. ed. course at Emory University