Countdown to Renovation: 10 Things to Discuss With Your Builder
Hold a meeting a week before all those tradies arrive to nut out these concerns and your construction will get off to a great start
All of the selections have been made, the contract is signed and you’re ready for your construction project to start.
Not so fast! Before work begins, make sure you and your contractor are on the same page about how things will go. This often takes the form of a pre-construction meeting, which may be most useful when held at your property at least one week ahead of construction, particularly if you have furniture or other belongings to move.
Here are a few of the most important things to cover at this meeting:
Not so fast! Before work begins, make sure you and your contractor are on the same page about how things will go. This often takes the form of a pre-construction meeting, which may be most useful when held at your property at least one week ahead of construction, particularly if you have furniture or other belongings to move.
Here are a few of the most important things to cover at this meeting:
2. Street parking and rubbish/recycling days
Depending on where your project is, there may be ample parking or almost none. Neighbours may also be territorial about their parking spots.
Make sure you discuss the days and times when your rubbish and recycling bin pick-ups will take place. You don’t want your builder or tradespeople to obstruct the road or lane with equipment at those times.
Depending on where your project is, there may be ample parking or almost none. Neighbours may also be territorial about their parking spots.
Make sure you discuss the days and times when your rubbish and recycling bin pick-ups will take place. You don’t want your builder or tradespeople to obstruct the road or lane with equipment at those times.
3. Access and security
Talk about how the contractor will access your home and where a key will be kept, then review security codes for alarm systems. Some alarm companies will allow you to set a temporary code for your contractor to use that’s separate from yours, so that when the job is done the code can be cancelled. Also talk about safety measures that will be required, such as temporary fences and public signs.
Talk about how the contractor will access your home and where a key will be kept, then review security codes for alarm systems. Some alarm companies will allow you to set a temporary code for your contractor to use that’s separate from yours, so that when the job is done the code can be cancelled. Also talk about safety measures that will be required, such as temporary fences and public signs.
4. Communication and contacts
Get a complete list of phone numbers and email addresses for the contractor and the main on-site contact. Make sure the contractor has all of your contact information as well, including an emergency number, so that he or she can reliably reach you.
Ask how information about the project will be communicated to you. This could take the form of an email summary every day or once in a while, a daily or weekly meeting, or updates posted to an online project management system. If you need communication in a way the contractor had not planned on, speak up and he or she may be able to provide it to you.
We had one project where the owners didn’t always get to talk to each other in the evening, so they requested that we send a daily email covering what was accomplished and what was happening the next day. They both knew they could count on that email to find out what was happening, even if they weren’t able to debrief each other.
Get a complete list of phone numbers and email addresses for the contractor and the main on-site contact. Make sure the contractor has all of your contact information as well, including an emergency number, so that he or she can reliably reach you.
Ask how information about the project will be communicated to you. This could take the form of an email summary every day or once in a while, a daily or weekly meeting, or updates posted to an online project management system. If you need communication in a way the contractor had not planned on, speak up and he or she may be able to provide it to you.
We had one project where the owners didn’t always get to talk to each other in the evening, so they requested that we send a daily email covering what was accomplished and what was happening the next day. They both knew they could count on that email to find out what was happening, even if they weren’t able to debrief each other.
5. Site and landscape protection
This is the main reason to have the pre-construction meeting on-site. It’s useful to walk around the house with your contractor to talk about where site protection will go (temporary fences and walls, tarps) so that everyone understands where the construction zone will be.
Temporary walls might have a door or lock so discuss what you prefer. This also gives you a clear idea of how much you need to move out. In larger projects, you may want to remove pictures and fragile items on walls shared with the construction area, as they may be rattled during demolition and framing.
Walking around the house will also give you the opportunity to talk about where to place the skip bin, where material can be staged, and which plants and trees should be protected. Expect to have to re-sod or restore areas where material is staged and tradies are walking.
This is the main reason to have the pre-construction meeting on-site. It’s useful to walk around the house with your contractor to talk about where site protection will go (temporary fences and walls, tarps) so that everyone understands where the construction zone will be.
Temporary walls might have a door or lock so discuss what you prefer. This also gives you a clear idea of how much you need to move out. In larger projects, you may want to remove pictures and fragile items on walls shared with the construction area, as they may be rattled during demolition and framing.
Walking around the house will also give you the opportunity to talk about where to place the skip bin, where material can be staged, and which plants and trees should be protected. Expect to have to re-sod or restore areas where material is staged and tradies are walking.
6. Neighbours
If you haven’t discussed the project with your neighbours yet, now is the time. They will likely be impacted by parking and noise, and it’s best to let them know it ahead of time. Alert your builder if you have neighbours who may be particularly sensitive, so that he or she can tread lightly if possible.
7. Location of utility shutoffs
On your walk make sure your contractor knows where all of the utility controls are: water, gas and electrical panel. They are concealed in some homes. Also, let your contractor know if there are appliances or circuits that can’t be turned off without adequate warning, like a deep freezer, pool pump or fish tank.
If you haven’t discussed the project with your neighbours yet, now is the time. They will likely be impacted by parking and noise, and it’s best to let them know it ahead of time. Alert your builder if you have neighbours who may be particularly sensitive, so that he or she can tread lightly if possible.
7. Location of utility shutoffs
On your walk make sure your contractor knows where all of the utility controls are: water, gas and electrical panel. They are concealed in some homes. Also, let your contractor know if there are appliances or circuits that can’t be turned off without adequate warning, like a deep freezer, pool pump or fish tank.
8. Household workers and pets
If you have cleaners, gardeners or other household help, it’s important to let your contractor know when those people are scheduled to be on site. Consider suspending the service while the project is underway.
If you have pets and intend to keep them on site during construction, talk with your contractor about how and where you will confine them. Your contractor is unlikely to want to keep track of your pet, so make sure you have a plan. Construction noise and disruption can be stressful for animals, so consider options for where your pets will stay.
If you have cleaners, gardeners or other household help, it’s important to let your contractor know when those people are scheduled to be on site. Consider suspending the service while the project is underway.
If you have pets and intend to keep them on site during construction, talk with your contractor about how and where you will confine them. Your contractor is unlikely to want to keep track of your pet, so make sure you have a plan. Construction noise and disruption can be stressful for animals, so consider options for where your pets will stay.
9. Set a day and time for a regular meeting
The first meeting is really important, but subsequent meetings during construction are also important. Set a regular time, whether weekly, fortnightly or at certain milestones, so that you have the opportunity to see the work as it progresses, answer questions from your contractor and ask questions of your own.
The first meeting is really important, but subsequent meetings during construction are also important. Set a regular time, whether weekly, fortnightly or at certain milestones, so that you have the opportunity to see the work as it progresses, answer questions from your contractor and ask questions of your own.
10. Miscellaneous questions about billing, scheduling and anything else on your mind
You may be feeling entirely confident about how the project will go, or you may have dozens of questions ranging from how billing will be handled, to who will be there every day, to where the mail will be delivered if your letterbox will be inaccessible or demolished. This is your opportunity to ask any lingering questions ahead of the starting day and make any arrangements needed, such as with your local post office. Then you’ll really be ready.
YOUR TURN
Tell us the actions you took to prepare for your renovation project, in the comments section below.
You may be feeling entirely confident about how the project will go, or you may have dozens of questions ranging from how billing will be handled, to who will be there every day, to where the mail will be delivered if your letterbox will be inaccessible or demolished. This is your opportunity to ask any lingering questions ahead of the starting day and make any arrangements needed, such as with your local post office. Then you’ll really be ready.
YOUR TURN
Tell us the actions you took to prepare for your renovation project, in the comments section below.
Most construction companies have standard work hours. These may vary depending on whether the home is vacant or occupied. Make sure you understand if the contractor or subcontractors intend to work into the evenings or on weekends. Having this conversation at the start will help to set realistic expectations.