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When your home improvement plans go
beyond painting or replacing the cupboard
doors and the curtains, it probably has
become a construction job. As in all
construction, you will want to check if a
permit will be required. Odds are good that
you will. If you are not experienced in home
construction, it will be wise to involve a good
contractor. Another point to remember is, it
takes longer to do these jobs than it looks
like it should. Make a poster and place it on
your morning mirror. The poster needs to
say something like; I want it done as well
as possible - not as fast as possible.

To know that you are aware and in control of
what is happening you need an itemized
checklist such as;

* What to do, How to do it, When to do it,
Who to call When, and What you expect
from them.

* Contractor Job Descriptions with an
accompanying Detailed and Itemized
Completion Checklist

* Detailed Labour and Material Budget

* Architects drawings, All permits in place

Choose your contractors carefully. It is a
good idea to visit some of the homes the
contractor has recently completed. Visit with
the people that they worked for. Ask
questions like; did they finish on budget?
Did they complete by the projected time?
Were there any problems and if so did they
correct the situation satisfactorily? Do not
be afraid to query past customers. Just be
up front and let them know that you are
about hire the contractor and you would
appreciate their help.

Establish the fact that you will be tracking
the project when talking to your contractor.
Don’t make it a confrontational thing just let
it be known that it is a big deal to you that
you feel involved in the home improvement
process. Most experienced tradesmen will
only wish to arrive at an agreement as to
how often and for how long you will be on the
construction site. Part of their concern,
besides safety, is that you will inadvertently
slow the workers down. Perhaps you can
suggest a schedule.