Don’t be afraid to ask for things to be done right

Recently our home has been going through a series of transformations (house projects). During this process we have worked with a few contractors on jobs. Something I’ve learned during this process is don’t be afraid to ask for things to be done right.

What do I mean by that? I mean if a contractor, drywaller, painter, roofer, etc does something that you are going to pay for ensure it is done to your standards. Why your standards, because they may be different, think higher or even much higher, than the contractor.

Things done right

Ehen things aren’t done to your standards you shouldn’t have to pay for them. Make sure you are reasonable and within the scope of what was agreed upon. Before your contractor begins work ensure they are fully aware of your expectations of their work product.

Why does this matter?

Like everything we write about here the reason to ask for things to be done right is all about saving money. Typically, if a contractor doesn’t do the work correctly or up to your expectations the work doesn’t last as long, you want to make changes, or you end up fixing their work. All of these “solutions” cost you time and/or money and that’s not the point of the process. You are spending you hard earned money on repairs and you deserve to get what you paid for.

Summary

Set expectations and hold your contractor accountable for those expectations. Small side note here, protect yourself and don’t pay your contractor until the work is done! Most contractors won’t ask for any up front payment unless the job is really large. If your job is really large it is more important to set expectations early around payment. Ask how much materials will cost and only pay for that before the job gets done.

Let me know your experiences with contractors, good and bad, would love to hear them.