Tips to Make Your Remodeling Project Go Smoothly

You should be able to rely on your kitchen and bathroom remodeling contractor for professional, detail-oriented work. However, there are some things you can do to make your contractor’s job easier and possibly even make the job run smoother and faster.

Talk with your company representative about ways you can prepare for the work and be of assistance while your kitchen/bathroom renovations are in progress, including the following:

• Prepare your home for construction. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling often means dust and debris throughout the rest of your home. Most contractors will erect barriers to keep construction dust in the rooms they’re working on, but you may be able to save time and money by offering to prepare your home yourself. Talk to your contractor about steps you can take to get ready for construction.
• Have storage space available. If your kitchen and bathroom contractor is ordering large amounts of building materials, they may need to store them onsite until they can be used. Ask your contractor if you need to provide a storage space for cabinets, flooring, countertops, unfinished wood or other construction materials, and have a space ready and available if needed.
• Remove and safely store personal items. Move and store all unnecessary items from the kitchen and bathrooms where the crew will be working. These may include furniture, decorations, rugs and plants. Not only will this protect your items from damage, it will allow the company’s employees to work without fear of damaging your property. You may also want to remove antiques, family heirlooms, art, and expensive items from high-traffic areas and safely store them so they aren’t accidentally broken during the construction.
• Keep pets and children out of work areas. For safety’s sake, block off construction areas so children and pets can’t get into the rooms that are being renovated. Whether or not the crews are working, there may be unexpected hazards such as power tools, open electrical wiring or uneven flooring that may pose a threat.

How Can You Be a Good Customer?

Here are a few simple steps you can take to be a good customer when working with a kitchen and bathroom remodeler:

• Be clear and upfront with the contractor. Let them know what you want from your new bathroom/kitchen design, the long-term outcome you’re expecting and what they can do to satisfy your expectations.
• Before you hire a contractor, restate your expectations/goals and reiterate your understanding of the agreement. Most problems occur because of a breakdown in communication. By being clear about your expectations and those of your contractor, you can avoid most conflicts.
• Ask if you should call to check on the progress or if a company representative will call you with updates.
• Make sure your contractor has a phone number where they can reach you while they’re working in your home. The construction will move along more smoothly if your contractor can call you with any updates, questions or work authorizations.
• When your contractor contacts you, return their calls promptly to keep the work on schedule.
• Pay for the work promptly.