You've signed the contract for a renovation, and suddenly realize you are about to have a bunch of people you never met in your house. What do you do? How should you behave?
Here are some rules on work-site etiquette.
Communicating
Follow the proper communications channels. You should not be talking to the subtrades. If you have a question about something like tile or wiring, go through the general contractor or the site foreman. If one of the subs asks you a question (which they shouldn't), tell him you'll talk to the foreman or contractor. If you deal directly with the subs, it will lead to confusion and disrupt the workflow.
Don't try to negotiate side deals for extras with subcontractors. I've seen a few homeowners try this, thinking it will save money to "go direct" for an extra plumbing line, or speaker wire in the wall or even a bathroom in the basement. What it will cost you is the trust and goodwill of the general contractor. It also will probably be a violation of your contractual obligation to him. It's sleazy - don't do it.
If you want something extra done, talk to the GC or the foreman (there should be one on site every day work is being done). Good contractors respect someone who understands the protocols of business. Work through him. Have it done properly and according to your agreement.
Keep asking questions
Communicate often and openly. If you don't understand something, ask a question. If you have a problem with the work that's being done, say something. And, by the same token, if you like what you see, say something.
Your responsibility as a homeowner includes examining what is happening to your house, measuring it against your expectations, and communicating with your contractor until you are satisfied with what you are being told. I've met a lot of homeowners who were too fearful to ask questions. You must ask, but don't forget the first rule - talk to the general contractor or his representative, no one else.
You need both formal and informal opportunities to communicate. Have prescheduled meetings or conference calls once a day for small jobs, and three times a week for larger jobs. Informal meetings are where you go over day-to-day issues. ("The dormer looks great." "Do you think we should run the tile on the backsplash on an angle or square?" "How is that hallway skylight positioning going to work again?")
Formal meetings might include more players, such as the architect, a key subtrade or a supplier. These once-a-week meetings are where you want to discuss bigger issues such as delivery, payments, design and general workflow. You could even prepare an agenda ahead of time so you are sure to get your questions answered.
Expect respect
In every relationship, there is always give and take. When your house is being taken over by trades people, you have to be flexible, to a point. You may have to let a worker use your bathroom or telephone in a pinch, but that's not the same as finding them sitting on your couch watching television when you get home from work. You should expect to be respected. Lay the groundwork for a professional atmosphere on site and then defend it by expecting respect.
Be polite
Treat people the way you'd like to be treated - professionally and with courtesy. But don't think that things will go better if you become friends. Actually, the opposite is true. When you try to build a "friend" relationship with the workers, you find that contractual obligations, which are clear and legally based, are replaced with unclear, emotional ones.
I'm not saying be nasty and miserable. Just be polite - then get on with your day. Be professional and expect professionalism. Don't make coffee and cookies for the crew on their break every day, unless you want to see their coffee break stretch from 15 minutes to an hour. Believe me, your contractor won't appreciate it - they're his crew, and he pays them to work, not to socialize with you.
There are exceptions, of course, but you need to make sure you go through your general contractor. On a job I just finished, the homeowners treated my crew to homemade sushi rolls and rice balls. It was a wonderful surprise, and made our day - which was a rough one up to that point - go a lot better.
I have seen contractor/client relationships completely disintegrate because the homeowner tried to be "friends." Forget it. This is business. You just want the job to be done on time, on budget and correctly. Then, if you want to be friends, knock yourself out.
Mike Holmes is the host of Holmes on Homes on HGTV. Go to http://www.holmesonhomes.com