Savannah is a city of Southern charm filled with beautiful old houses, but some of those homes need careful renovation. Whether your coastal dream home is a historic fixer-upper or a new build, you will need to work with contractors. Here are 10 things you should discuss with your contractors before the work starts.
Communication
Be sure you know who the main contact is and how to reach that person including emergency numbers. You should also set up a method for regular communication about the work’s progress and agree on how often this will occur.
Regular Meetings
This agreed-upon communication should not replace regular in-person meetings. Meetings allows you to ask any questions onsite about the work in progress.
Working Hours
Be sure that you and the contractor are on the same page about days and hours for working. If they normally begin work at 7 a.m. and this is not going to work for you, this should be clear from the beginning.
Neighbors
You should inform any neighbors who will be impacted by the work. While it is impossible to entirely prevent disturbance, you might want to speak with them. Before making a final agreement on working hours, check with your neighbors in case there are particular times that are unsuitable for them.
Access
Contractors need to have access to your property and home. This may include sharing any security codes for alarm systems. Codes shared with contractors can be temporary.
Parking and Trash and Recycling Pickup
Your contractor needs to know the schedule and procedure so that workers do not inadvertently block trash and recycling pickups or neighbors. If permits are necessary, these should be arranged ahead of time.
Landscape and Materials
You should have an agreement with your contractor about where material can be kept and what features of the landscape need protection. Also, discuss how the site will look during construction including where tarps and temporary structures will go.
Utilities
Contractors should know where shutoffs are for all utilities and if there is anything that should not be turned off.
Pets or Other Workers
It is best to not have pets onsite because the noise can be stressful and contractors are unlikely to want to take on the responsibility of caring for them. However, if they are onsite, contractors should be made aware of them. Contractors should also be informed if other workers, such as cleaners, will be around.
Everything Else
During the initial or subsequent meetings, do not hesitate to ask questions about scheduling, billing or anything else that is on your mind however minor it may seem. This is your dream home, so it is important that you are comfortable with how things are proceeding.
Setting these parameters from the start will help ensure that you are all on the same page and help prevent misunderstandings and delays. In particular, setting up a regular communication framework from the start means that throughout the process you can continue to address any of the above issues as they arise.