A contractor can make or break a build. That is why we always say that hiring your contractor is one of the biggest decisions you will make during your Vancouver home renovation. But what about after that? How do you make sure your contractor knows you and what you want from your Vancouver home renovation? You have these 5 important conversations!
What to discuss with your contractor before your Vancouver home renovation
1. Which rooms do you use the most and how do you use them?
Your contractor needs to know where you spend your time because that tells them where to focus the most attention. After all, you do not want to throw all your money and your contractor’s time into rooms you barely use.
Talking about how you use rooms gives your contractor key information about what your needs are. Then, they can take that information and create a plan for how to make your home serve you better. Also, do not forget to discuss the way other individuals that live in your home use various rooms. Also, if you have loved ones who spend a lot of time at your place, you may want to include information from them too.
2. Are there any problems that you are looking to solve with this renovation?
A Vancouver home renovation is often about solving problems. But your contractor cannot solve problems they do not know about. So do not be shy! Instead, open up about any concerns, issues, and annoyances you have. Once you have shared all this information, let your contractor go to work and create a proposal about how to resolve your problems!
3. What is your dream end result?
This is why you focus on what you really want. To start, outline your ideal situation. What would your post-renovation home look like? Once you have created that general outline, go over your non-negotiables. These are your must-haves. For example, if there is a certain tile you are set on for your bathroom, you would put this in your non-negotiables. Be as clear as you can be here, giving pictures or brand names if you have them. Then, if you have any wants or inspirations, share those too. All of this information will let your contractor know what your priorities are – and will help you get what you want.
Know that the more expensive must-haves you put in place, the higher your budget will need to be. Upside, if you tell your contractor up-front about your non-negotiable list, they will be able to tell you if your budget is reasonable or if you need to add some more money or make some cuts.
4. Are there any features that you have a sentimental attachment to?
Most of us have elements in our home that we would never want to lose. The perfect example of this is a wall where a family tracks children’s growth over the years. If you have something like this that you absolutely want to keep, make sure you tell your contractor. Impress upon them that you need this element to stay. This will make their job easier as they know from day one what they need to keep. On your end, it will make sure that nothing important to you gets removed or destroyed.
5. Does anyone else have any input?
Just like you, your loved ones may have problems, ideas, wants, and must-keep elements related to your Vancouver home renovation. Therefore, you may want to include them in the design process. If you have children, you may want them to weigh in. For young children, it is best to focus on a few simple questions. Older children may be able to make more significant contributions – should you want them to.
No matter what, make sure you are clear with your contractor about who has input and who does not. That way, there will be no confusion down the road.
What to do if you have concerns about your contractor
If you have these conversations with your contractor and you do not feel comfortable or heard, what do you do? You are the customer. You have every right to raise concerns. So speak up and let your contractor know that you do not feel they have acknowledged the key information you are sharing with them. If you still are not comfortable after that, do not move forward with your Vancouver home renovation! Instead, look for a new contractor that listens to you, your wants, and your needs.
Ideally, you will not find yourself in this situation where you do not feel good about your contractor. The best way to protect yourself from this situation is to ask the right questions before hiring anyone. Not sure what those questions are? We have them all here for you!
