Contractor Tips: Top Home Remodeling Don'ts

There are a lot of challenges for today’s contractors. Keeping up-to-date with the latest tools and techniques, regulations and codes alone can keep them busy. The challenge of running a business has enough pitfalls on its own. When it comes to the contractor’s bread-and-butter, the remodeling job, there are plenty of things to be wary of. Below, we’ll discuss some well-known “don’ts” that can help make remodeling jobs go smoother.

• Don’t forget to get the necessary building permits. This is something that cannot be done halfway. Not having the proper permits can hurt from a business point of view as well as a customer relations point of view.
• Don’t rush things. Work with the customer to make sure that they are aware of all of the planning needed before beginning the project. To do otherwise would be expensive for both you and the customer. If you see that they are not considering the big picture, be sure to let them know ahead of time, all the details that are involved in the work they want done. Make sure that you mention to the customer the many potential situations that may come up during the job, that way they are better armed for any contingencies should the need arise.
• Discourage the customer from cutting corners on key materials. For things that get used the most this is doubly important. A lot of plumbing fixtures with cheap finishes can fail after just a short period of time. Also, encourage a customer to look for a solid warranty for these key materials.
• Additionally, make sure the customer is wary of discounted materials. While a supplier might have a great price, it could mean more work down the road trying to shoehorn this “bargain” into the project at hand.
• If the job requires you to obtain hired help or to subcontract, don’t skimp on skilled labor. The people who work under you will reflect on your company, after all. The work that they do, for all intents and purposes, is the work that you do.
• Lastly and probably the most important: Don’t ignore safety. Simple things. This could mean safety equipment, like goggles and harnesses that should play a part on any job. This also goes for safety practices like using guards on power tools and ensuring that breakers are turned off when working around electricity.