The first point is communication. Who is the contact person
for both the family and the remodeler and for what aspects each person is accountable.
In many homes there is one person that primarily handles the financial
decisions and questions while another may have the final say in design or color
choices. The remodeler should be able to provide a mini organizational chart or
a specified contact list for access and communication. Homeowners that contact
the wrong or multiple persons with a questions may get inaccurate or
conflicting answers that cause problems for both the client and remodeler. How
will the project progress communication be handled? Will this be done via phone
calls, emails, posted job board, or face to face meetings? Will there be a
regular schedule for these progress updates?
The second point is paperwork. How will any change orders be
handled? Both parties should make sure any changes to the original work scope and/or
plans be in writing, approved, and signed by both the homeowner and remodeler
before performing the change. Is there a provision in the agreement that allows
for the approving signature of just one of the homeowners? If the change order
decision needs to be made immediately is there a provision for email approval
to move forward with obtaining paperwork signatures subsequently? Homeowners
and remodelers equally should never accept and act upon verbal discussions no
matter how long and solid the relationship is.
Construction permits, when read aloud, sometimes sounds like
"root canal" to everyone involved. Make certain that the process and
responsibility of obtaining, paying for, scheduling inspections, and waiting
around to meet the inspectors are understood by all. A note to homeowners:
while it may sound advantageous to you when a remodeler tells you that permits
are not required for your project, they are important for your safety and assurance
and is often mandatory with a shared legal responsibility for both parties.
When in question, call your township.
Then there is the money of course. Is the payment schedule
clearly defined in writing? In our opinion, the progress payments should be
tied to several work progress milestones and not dates on the calendar. Is the
schedule fair and equitable to both parties? A remodeler having half the total
amount at the start of the work is unfair, but so is the client holding onto a
large sum until 100% complete. There should be a written process that addresses
how the work and payments will close out. We suggest that when approximately 90%
of the work is complete, there is a walk-through meeting with all owners and a
field and office staff representative from the remodeler. At this meeting, a
mutual list of items yet to be done and things that need to be fixed or changed
should be agreed, put in writing, and signed. The plan should be for final
payment to occur with the satisfactory completion of this list combined with
applicable final inspections and approvals that the municipality requires. Also,
what methods of payment are accepted and what is not? Who collects these
payments and are there separate invoices, receipts, and reconciliation
spreadsheets provided?
There is often a list of items for the project that require
viewing, comparing, and final selections by the homeowner that might not be finalized
at the time the agreement is put in place. Typically these allowance items are
products that may entail a visit to a showroom; such as: plumbing fixtures,
tile, lighting fixtures...etc. Allowances have estimated dollar amounts
associated with their anticipated cost. Are future decisions or changes to
these items, and associated payment adjustments, clear? How will allowance credits
and debits be applied to the payment schedule? What are the time frames,
deadlines, and consequences for delay in making final selections?
The next point is time. Are there defined start and
completion dates? Is there a remodeler's penalty clause for late completion?
Are homeowners held responsible for delays in access, decisions, and payments?
Are there acceptable exceptions listed that are beyond the remodeler's control?
We recommend that normal work hours and possible weekend work be discussed and
agreed upon. The homeowner should expect a written anticipated progress
schedule for the entire project before the work starts. There should be a method
of communicating and updating this schedule, as it will almost certainly change
due to outside factors and change orders. Homeowners should have an expectation
of knowing daily what crews will be working and made aware if there will be a "no-work"
day and the reason why.
Finally, don't forget the home and family! Does the house
have an alarm system and how will it be handled? Who is responsible for access
when the homeowner is not home, and how will they access the home (key, garage
code, etc.). It is our suggestion that
an alternate door code, or a new lock be used during construction, and switched
back after the work is complete. Determine parking arrangements, garage and
driveway access plus location for debris, portable lavatory, and material
deliveries. Do the children or pets need special attention or isolation? Will
there be daily, periodic, and final cleaning for safety, comfort and
appearance? Determine the reasonable level of expectation for site cleanliness and
don't forget it is construction that usually starts with destruction.
Having been integral parts of thousands of residential
renovation projects, the staff at Design Build Pros has many opinions and
suggestions that they gladly share with homeowners and remodelers that want to
improve the overall remodeling experience. Let us know if you have any
questions and we will answer where and when reasonably possible.
INFO@DesignBuildPros.com
