Having your kitchen remodeled might mean that you have kitchen contractors in your home for 4-6 weeks, maybe even longer, depending on the specific remodel. It is imperative that you get along with your kitchen contractors. Imagine having someone in your home for over a month who you don't like or don't trust, while you are paying them a great deal of money to be there. This could be a very uncomfortable experience. Here are a few ideas to get this relationship started on the right foot.
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Talk with Your Kitchen Professional
Any and all arguments, bad blood, and misunderstandings stem from miscommunication. Even if you are the quiet type, this is your home and you need to speak up. The best advice is sit down with your contractor after all the design and material decisions have been made, but before the work begins and talk about your needs with your kitchen and his needs for the project.
If you don't want your kitchen pros working in your house before a certain time in the morning or past a certain time at night, tell him this. Realize that these restrictions may slow the project time considerably.
If you have a party or some other event planned a few weeks in the distance, let your contractor know when it is and in what type of functional/presentable condition the kitchen needs to be in by that time.
Remember to mention any other house rules (no cussing in the house, for example) so that they know them coming in.
Kitchen Remodeler Functions
Your kitchen contractors will need to park somewhere on or near your property. If you have a spot in mind, tell them where it is. During the remodeling process they will have to make many trips back and forth for tools, to remove old material, or to bring in the new. Tell them which door you would like them to use, if you have one in mind.
If your kitchen professional is from another town or from a different area of the city, let them know some good places to eat or get a drink after work. This will be appreciated by anyone, and it lets your contractor know that you are thinking of him even when you don't have to.
If you allow the contractors to use your restroom, let them know which one they can use.
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Protect Your Home
Because there will be a good amount of traffic through and construction in your house, you need to protect the things in your home. Buy some carpet squares or lengths of carpet and put them on the path your contractors use in and out of the house. This will keep your floors from getting scratched if they have rocks or nails in their boots, and it will keep the carpet from getting muddy if their boots are dirty.
It is also a good idea to cover your furniture that is near the construction with blankets or even thin sheets of plastic. If dust or debris travels this far, you won't have to clean and dust as much, plus it will protect the furniture.
If there are breakable items on tables or in the path the contractors use, move it far away. They will be coming and going with large and heavy material, and anything that can get broken most likely will. Clear this path so that they are not worried and breaking something, and you won't have anything to worry about.
The Ideal Client
The above items are for the client, the customer, the homeowner, and those items don't really help the other side. In the contractor's eyes, there exists an ideal client. Great clients often have their projects completed quicker, with fewer mistakes, and sometimes at a discount. This is nothing to bank on, but by being an ideal client, you might get many more things in return than someone who is difficult to work with.
Allow your contractors to park as close to your house as humanly possible. They will be toting heavy equipment and the closer the walk, the easier for them.
Let them use your bathroom. If they have to travel any distance to use the restroom, it will just take them that much longer to complete the project.
Think about having coffee ready when they arrive in the morning. Everyone drinks coffee, and it will be a nice treat for them.
Occasionally, have donuts or bagels. Maybe on a Friday and definitely if they are working Saturdays. Think about making lunch for them on occasion. It doesn't have to be anything fancy. Have a pizza delivered or some sandwiches.
There are other things that you will be able to think of once you know them better, but if you can be amenable to their work, they will certainly be ready to work for you. Remember that this is your home and you are paying for this project, and you do not have to do anything except pay for it. While this is the bare minimum, doing a little extra will often ensure that your kitchen contractors will do a little extra for you.
Matt Myers is a freelance writer for the home maintenance and remodeling industry. Formerly a contractor specializing in deck building and casework, Matt has written over 500 articles for both homeowners and contractors.
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