If you own a home, you will almost certainly have contractors in your house at some point. Whether it’s a one-day project or a major repair that will take weeks, having contractors in your home is disruptive and stressful—for both of you. Your routine and private space are compromised (plus, the mess)—yet far too many people assume that making the project a success is solely the responsibility of the contractors themselves. The truth is, the best way to ensure that your contractor experience is a positive one is to be proactive and take certain steps before they show up early on a weekday morning.
Here are the things you should do to prepare your house for contractors.
Make room
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Easily the single most important thing you can do to get ready for workers in your house is to clear some space. Expecting construction pros and expert tradespeople to move furniture, remove window treatments and wall decorations, and deal with clutter isn’t just rude, it’s counter-productive because they have to waste time preparing the space instead of getting right to work. Clearing stuff out of the way beforehand benefits you as much as them; aside from the efficiency factor, you also don’t have to worry about damage, dirty handprints, or having to monitor every single decision they make regarding where (and how) to put all your stuff.
Check all the insurance
If you hired a reputable contractor, they likely have insurance. But did you actually check and ask for proof of that insurance? You can usually look up their license number at your state’s department of consumer affairs or similar agency, and a simple way to determine what their insurance covers is to ask them.
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But you should also contact your own insurance company and clarify what your homeowner’s insurance covers when repairs or renovations are being done. While many policies include some kind of renovation coverage, there may be limits as to what kind of work is covered (for example, many standard policies exclude additions to the home from this coverage) and you might not have sufficient coverage for the scale of work being done. It’s a good idea to speak with your insurer to determine the coverage you have and what you might need.
Create a space
Even if your project is relatively modest, if you’re going to be in the house while the workers do their thing you need to think about how that will impact you. Creating a space in the house far from the noise and commotion where you can work and relax is a good idea even if it’s going to be for just a few hours. Make sure you have everything you need, including an internet connection, and let the contractors know that this area of the house is off-limits unless there’s an emergency.
For small projects, this might just be a spare bedroom or a home office you already use. For bigger projects, you might need to think about setting up a temporary kitchen or other facilities.
Construction is a dirty, dusty business, so for longer-term projects you should also consider putting up some plastic sheeting to separate your enclave from the construction zone—in fact, creating an “air lock” using some adhesive zippers along with your plastic sheeting will spare your sanity by keeping all that dust contained to the work space.
Make a pet plan
If you have pets, think about how the renovation will affect them. Pets can be injured and cause all manner of trouble by poking their snouts into places they shouldn’t, and the noise and turmoil of work being done can spook them. Make a plan ahead of time for keeping them in a safe, secure area where they will have access to food, water, and whatever else they need.
Ensure access
Modern construction requires modern infrastructure—in other words, electricity. Think about where your workers will be able to plug in drills, saws, and other power tools when working on your home. If for some reason that won’t be possible, communicate this clearly to your contractor so they can arrange to have a generator to provide power if needed. If the nearest power outlet is behind some furniture that isn’t otherwise affected, you should move it out of the way prior to their arrival so they can just plug in and get to work.
You should also plan ahead so that the workers in your home have access to water and bathroom facilities. Expecting contractors to figure out where to relieve themselves elsewhere when there’s a working bathroom (presumably) in the house is pretty rude, so make it clear to them which bathroom they can use ahead of time. If for some justifiable reason you can’t let them use your bathroom, make this clear way before they get there so they can make a plan.
Secure valuables
Most licensed contractors are above board and put effort into hiring subcontractors and employees who are reliable and trustworthy. But depending on the scale of your project, you might have a large number of people in and out of your home on a regular basis, which means accidents can damage your valuables and you can’t be absolutely certain no one will engage in crimes of opportunity. For everyone’s peace of mind, secure anything you don’t want to lose away from the construction zone.
Set up parking and access
Before the contractors arrive, make sure you understand the parking and access they will need—do they need you to move your cars out of the driveway or garage? If you only have street parking, do they need you to arrange for a temporary No Parking permit from the city? Do you need to ensure they have a spot right outside the house where they can park a van or truck?
Similarly, will they need an area to saw or do other messy work outside the home? Will they need independent access to your home requiring keys or alarm codes? Figuring all of this out before they get there will make everyone’s life a lot easier.
Alert neighbors
Finally, keep in mind that your home improvement or repair project doesn’t just affect you—it also affects your neighbors. Letting them know that you’ll be having work done and giving them some idea of the inconveniences this might cause—from noise to dust to a lack of parking—gives them a chance to make their own arrangements, and can sharply reduce their frustration. It might also be a good idea to introduce your contractor to your closest neighbors, and see if they’re OK exchanging contact information. This way, if there’s an issue between your contractor and your neighbors, they might be able to resolve it more quickly and easily. At the very least, informing your neighbors will make them feel respected and engaged.