Contractor Stephen Fanuka shares what he wishes his clients knew before hiring him — and after he's taken on the job.
1. Don't expect perfection — expect quality.
The most unrealistic expectation a client can have is that the job will be perfect. There's no such thing. Painting and tiling and brickwork aren't done by machine. They're done by craftsmen — who, yes, are human.
2. Your contractor is making judgments from the moment he steps in your home.
This is like a first date — the first time a contractor meets a client, we size up who they are, how they conduct themselves. What's their personality like? Are they hot-tempered? Dismissive of your suggestions? If they deal with you this way right off the bat, there probably won't be a second date.
3. ... but they know you're making judgments, too.
Clients want to be sure you are responsible and fully involved. They want us to be attentive, direct, honest, courteous. In other words: We should be someone they won't mind seeing every day for six months or longer.
4. Good negotiators can get a better price.
Get more than one bid. Start with the highest-end contractor, the best-stuff-money-can-buy guy. Ask him for a detailed proposal. Take that proposal and copy it, leaving out the costs. Pass it out to subsequent contractors you interview and ask them to fill in the costs. This will give you a good idea of what the job is worth. But be cautious: The lowest bid isn't usually the best.