How to Prepare for Your Remodel: Contractor Tips

Key Takeaways

  • Establish Expectations Early: Open and thorough discussions with your contractor before work begins eliminate confusion and keep the project on track.
  • Factor in City Inspections: Expect temporary work pauses for progress reviews by city inspectors, keeping in mind that any required corrections must be addressed before work can resume.
  • Prepare for Dust and Mess: Dust is a normal part of any home upgrade or addition; contractors handle basic cleanup, but hiring a professional cleaner post-project is recommended.
  • Anticipate Potential Delays: Unforeseen factors—such as weather, pandemics, change orders, or design shifts—can impact timelines, while consistent, on-time payments keep work crews fully engaged.
  • Maintain Collaborative Communication: Fostering a positive relationship between you and your contractor ensures mutual goals are met and project momentum stays strong.

The best way to prepare for your remodel is to know what to expect. Discussions with your contractor before your project begins will eliminate any confusion and help to keep things moving forward.

Inspections

  • If your project has inspections, there will be days when work is paused to allow for a City inspector to review progress.
  • Sometimes inspectors will assign corrections to be completed before work can resume.
  • Not all corrections are the responsibility of your contractor.

It Gets Messy

  • Whether you are adding square footage to your home or having it painted, dust is normal during a remodel.
  • Your contractor should clean up at the end of the project but it is recommended to hire a professional cleaner after project completion.

Delays

  • Contractors do everything in their power to stay on schedule. Delays don’t benefit anyone, but they happen.
  • Weather, pandemic, added work and unforeseen issues can all cause delays to the project.
  • Change orders can have a time impact since it was an unforeseen addition.
  • Change of plans can cause time delays especially if a new design/floor plan is needed.
  • On time payments keep the project moving. Your contractor might have to pull crews and work on other projects if payments are significantly behind.

Work Together

  • We all want the same thing: a quality project completed in a timely manner.
  • Having a positive relationship between contractor and client is very important in keeping the project momentum.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, your contractor should clean up the workspace at the end of the project, though hiring a professional deep cleaner is still recommended after completion.

Delays can be triggered by weather events, unforeseen issues, added scope, material changes, or plan modifications that require new design layouts.

Yes, keeping up with scheduled payments is vital; if payments fall significantly behind, contractors may have to pull crews away to work on other projects.

Not all inspection corrections are the contractor’s responsibility, so it is important to clarify responsibilities regarding local code requirements beforehand.