Commercial Remodeling: What to Do After You Hire a Contractor

Depending on the type of remodeling or renovation work you need to do, you may often find it more beneficial to hire a contractor to help get the job done. This is especially true if the project is a commercial job. After all, you will likely be investing a great deal of money into the project, and you want to be sure everything is correctly done.

So, once you have found a commercial building contractor who is honest and reputable, you are ready to get the job underway. Because, as everyone knows, time is money and you don’t want to waste either commodity.

However, once the job has begun, what are your responsibilities? Are you to just hire the contractor and move on until the project is complete? Of course not, but what should you do to protect yourself through the job’s progress? Here are several things you can do to bring you peace of mind and the knowledge the result is all you want it to be.

Communication: Many problems we deal with could have been avoided altogether if there had been better communication between all the parties involved. Make it a point to spend time at the job site each day, and talk about the project’s progress. Once the walls are painted or the windows installed, it’s a little late (not to mention costly) to discover something is not the way you wanted it.

Take photographs to have a visual record of how the work progresses. Also, having pictures will be helpful in the case there is a dispute about materials or the quality of work. You may also wish to keep a logbook where you can record any questions you may wish to ask. Along with the answers, write down the name and numbers for any contractors doing the painting, flooring, lighting, etc. to be used, or maybe just jot down your feelings on how the job is going.

If there are any significant changes (e.g. a loading deck, skylight, etc.) be sure it’s added to the contract or even have a new contract drawn up. Items such as light switches, deadbolts or other minor things can always be recorded in your logbook.

Don’t get behind in your scheduled payments, as this will hold up the progress of the work. Before signing, be sure your contract has a payment schedule by which you can abide.

Don’t be afraid to fire your contractor if they are not listening to you or are doing a poor job. It is better to cut your losses while you can still get the project back on schedule and up to standards, then to wait until the job is done and all you can do is complain. Some legitimate reasons for firing contractors are shoddy work, not showing up to work when they said they would, property damage or a failure to do what you have asked of them.

These are some simple ways that you can be in touch with what is going on at the job site. By being involved in the building process, you can be sure that the outcome is everything you had anticipated.

Janet Slagell independently authors articles for WebDrafter.com search engine marketing clients, like Twin Cities commercial remodeling contractor Titus Contracting. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those solely of the author, and not of any other person, company, or organization. No guarantee or warranty, express or implied, is made regarding the accuracy, fitness, or use of the content herein