Getting the Best Work from Your Contractor

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By: Oliver Marks
3Comments

Working with a contractor takes effort and know-how in order to keep your project on time and on budget.

Effort: High 1 hr/day (checking job site)
Investment: Low $0

Pay only for completed work

Money is power. As soon as you’ve paid the contractor, you no longer have the upper hand.

It’s crucial that you keep the payment schedule in line with the work schedule. The contract should establish a series of payments to be made when certain parts of the job are completed. For example, your contract could stipulate that you’ll pay in three equal installments, with the last payment made after the project is complete, and after you and your contractor agree the work is satisfactory.

Never put down more than 10% upfront; that’s too much cash to hand over before any work is complete. Your contractor should be able to get any necessary supplies on credit.

Next: Be a good customer

Oliver Marks

A former carpenter and newspaper reporter, Oliver Marks has been writing about home improvements for 16 years. He’s currently restoring his second fixer-upper with a mix of big hired projects and small do-it-himself jobs.

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(3)

That is some great information with respect to what to expect. Both from the Contractor and the Homeowner.
Posted by RoseAnne on January 08, 2013

Preparing your home before contractors arrive says a lot about your standards. Especially the work area, but all parts of your home tell the contractor whether you expect the best -- or maybe not. A jumbled basement or garage, or untidy rooms elsewhere, can become signals that you'll let things slide or just not notice if things are not done properly. The work area, and pathways to and from it for the workers, is especially important. If you leave a $1200 dining room table or priceless piece of art under a lighting fixture that needs replacing, it shows you don't understand the contractor's work flow at all, and it means extra, risky work for them. We contractors live in dread of one little ding on a fine wood table, or an accidental thumb-print on artwork -- either of which could erase the contractor's entire budget for a project and leave them working and delivering materials to you for free. This -- and even the risk of this -- won't make them your fast friend. http://www.PhillyLicensedElectrician.com
Posted by Robert on January 28, 2012

Pennsylvania law for home improvement contracting allows up to 1/3 payment in advance -- on top of the cost for materials delivered on site. This is reasonable. Many projects may take more than one month, leaving the contractor out-of-pocket for materials purchased on 30 day net terms, otherwise.
Posted by Robert on January 28, 2012

Print Checklist

Stay involved with your contractor's work:

They’re lush, green, and all-American. They’re also water-hogging, time-sucking nuisances. In fact, some are saying ‘no’ to turf. Should we get rid of our lawns?

What are lawn alternatives?

Turf grasses

Ground cover

Fake grass

And, yes, lawn paint!