1) Have a clear scope of work: Even for large remodels, please talk with your significant other about the general idea of what you want before you make that first call. As a contractor, it is hard to plan when one person is on a budget and the other person wants all luxury items. Communicate prior to the phone call all of your goals and expectations for what the project could look like at the end.

2) Realistic expectations for pricing and budget: As a contractor, we understand you are calling us to discuss pricing, but it is really helpful if you and any party involved discussed a budget prior to the initial interaction. Do not trust pricing listed on home shows or big national companies like Angi’s list. Those prices are not accurate. If you go to our website, we have tons of videos with cost to set proper expectations.

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3) Brief and to the point: Every contractor is different in how the first phone call is taken, but many are on jobs site, riding in a truck or they have office personnel taking the phone call. With this in mind, I highly recommend giving them a brief overview of your project. Once you get past this initial step with your contractor, then that is when you can get into the nitty gritty of your project.

4) Flexibility with scheduling: It is 100% the contractor’s responsibility to update you before and during your project with any schedule changes. If the contractor properly communicates these schedule changes, it is on the customer to understand that many factors made that change happen. Between weather before/during your job, change orders, employee’s sickness and family sickness; all these can effect your schedule. As a contractor we understand you may be sad and disappointed (we are too), but we hope you understand that this is a possibility.

5) Change orders: As a painting and home improvement contractor, we do not like change orders (see tip #4 for why we do not like them), but change orders happen in construction. My advice to all homeowners is to have a clear contract from the start and when a change does arise, you have a clear understanding of why it is a change order and not part of the original contract.

6) Be Friendly: This may sound simple, but I promise it is not. We all like to work in places where you feel comfortable. We do a great job no matter what, but I promise the friendlier you are, the better experience you will have with your contractor.

7) Be Available: When it is time for the project to start, we highly recommend you being there for day 1, being accessible during the project to answer any questions and at the end to do a final walk through. This final walk through is important to make sure everyone is on the same page on what needs to be completed to ensure 100% happiness on both sides.