BLOG/ Home Renovation: 5 tips to help align with homeowners

You have a brilliant solution to improve someone’s home renovation that will save them time and money. The owner has a completely different vision, one that will be less efficient and more expensive. They don’t have the budget for it.

All contractors have faced this at some point in their careers in home renovation. Being the owner’s advocate and ally is essential to maintaining a positive professional relationship!

It is SO important to be on the same page as your client during all phases of a home renovation project. We have compiled a list of five considerations to keep in your back pocket to make sure you have a happy contractor-client relationship.

1 Communication

This tip goes first because it is the MOST important and prevents a host of other issues. Contractors have a bad rap for being poor communicators.

“Under promise and over-deliver” should be every contractor’s motto. Don’t make promises you can’t keep, especially about when projects will be finished. This is the most common complaint from homeowners! 

It’s always better to finish your project early than to keep your client in limbo about when they will get their kitchen back!

Plus, if you finish earlier than you stated, it makes you look like you are really good at your job. If the project is going to take longer than expected, make sure you give your client constant updates!

Listen, we know not everyone is a teacher AND a great contractor, but a little bit of explaining goes a long way. Try to use layman’s terms with your client (when you can) so they understand what’s going on with their home, AKA their biggest investment!

People save up for years for home renovations, they want to make sure they are in the loop and that things are going to plan. Be honest and timely in your communication when you have project updates.

There are often unexpected obstacles when working on old homes that can really throw a wrench in the owner’s budget.

If you communicate graciously and let them know the outcome of all of their options, they may be less frustrated that things aren’t going as planned.  

2 Budgeting

Good communication will mitigate many budgeting issues. Most homeowners don’t know how much home improvement products actually cost.

Once you have a clear idea of their vision and budget, do your research to determine if their dream is affordable. Make sure they are specific about what they want, and if there are any places in which they are willing to make allowances.

By helping your client budget and plan ahead, you will help keep the budget on track by preventing delays in material acquisition due to changing plans, wasted work hours and other inconveniences.

As much as we’d all love that million dollar paycheck, your client will appreciate you keeping the project within their budget by appropriately sourcing materials and being clear about labor costs.

In the era of online reviews, having good rapport with your client is SO important! 

3 Make compromises

Many small home improvement projects can add up to be incredibly expensive. As a professional, you know the products available to you that can help keep your clients happy and keep the project within their means.

Sometimes you have to make compromises in what material you use. For example, replacing a wood floor can be expensive if your client wants all knot-free wood. Selecting flooring with knots  adds character, and lowers the price of a new floor substantially.

Knowing where to source a variety of materials will help diversify your knowledge of what alternatives are available on the market.

4 Donate your leftovers

Dumping materials your client no longer wants can get expensive. It can also be really wasteful! People often renovate because they want their home to look more modern. Their old appliances and cabinets are still functional! Donating materials helps keep useful supplies out of landfills.

Habitat for Humanity is a great resource for repurposing old supplies. They will even come to the home to cherry-pick the supplies that they want!

You  can save space in the landfill, collect a charitable tax credit for the donation, and help a good cause by donating unwanted materials.

Anything that Habitat doesn’t take can be offered on your local craigslist for free, or for a profit if you have time to barter.

You’d be surprised with what people are interested in! Afterall, one man’s trash is another’s treasure.

5 Sticking to the client’s plan

If you are the general contractor, you are responsible for making sure all of the sub-contractors are on the same page. Abundant clarity is the name of the game here!  Make maps, label walls and do whatever you have to do in order to make sure everyone on site knows the plan. 

What looks like trash to your crew, might be a treasured family heirloom to the homeowner. During a demo, anything that is staying should be labeled DO NOT REMOVE with painters tape.

Give the owner time to walk you through their home and double check the plan before you start making moves.