When conducting a renovation in your home, it is ideal that you monitor the project closely to ensure that things are going just as you have planned. However, this is not always possible for some homeowners, especially those out of the house longer than home.
If you barely have enough time for all of your responsibilities, let alone monitor a home renovation, here are some tips that can help you ensure you get the results you wanted—even if you don’t watch the renovation’s progress as closely as you would like.
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Choose a reliable contractor
When choosing a contractor, you want someone who you can trust to do the job well without much supervision, if any at all. This is especially important if you conduct a major renovation in your homes, such as a total kitchen makeover or home addition.
Although you still have to answer their questions, such as choosing the right quartz countertops or deciding what to do if the color of paint you want is no longer available, a reliable contractor will be able to proceed with the project without bothering you more than necessary. Nevertheless, always keep an eye on your phone if they need to contact you when you’re not at home.
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Hire a project manager
A project manager is in charge of overseeing the renovation from start to finish. They ensure that the project is going according to plan and that the schedule is being followed closely. They are also responsible for updating you about the project as needed. In short, they are your main representative in the project and are your first point of contact.
Many general contractor companies employ their own project managers, but if the one you choose only has a foreman, you can opt to hire your own. By having one working for you, you can focus on your other responsibilities instead of constantly monitoring the project at home.
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Set up cameras
If you haven’t already, consider setting up home cameras at the renovation site. Doing this can help you monitor workers’ activities even when you are not at home (security cameras can transmit a live feed directly to your phone or laptop) and ensure that everything is going according to plan. Home security cameras can also help you detect intruders if burglars see the renovation site as a potential entry point to your home.
You have a choice to inform the contractor about your home cameras or not. But if you are concerned about pilferage or workers slacking off, you may want to let them know that you have cameras around to deter these behaviors (and help ensure their safety and security as well.)
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Seek help from a loved one
If both you and your partner don’t have time to monitor the renovation going on in your home, ask a friend or family member to drop by the house from time to time. Even if they can’t give you a helpful update on the progress, the contractor will know that you have eyes on the project at all times and will be more motivated to do the work accordingly.
This is also a good idea if you have children that are too curious for their own good. If you’re at home but are busy with other tasks, ask someone to watch over your kids so that they don’t wander into the renovation site and potentially hurt themselves.
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Avoid making changes
Making changes to the design constantly can prolong the work (and increase your expenses) but doing so can also mean you have to check the renovation site more often. Not only that, but the risk of mistakes tends to increase if you are indecisive about what you want.
With that in mind, make sure that your construction plan is final before starting construction. And if you decide that you want to make changes later on, inform the contractor ahead of time so that they can make proper adjustments as soon as possible.
While these tips can help you reduce the amount of monitoring you need to do on a renovation project, you can’t get away with not checking up on the work at least a few times a week. Keep in mind that you, as the homeowner, also share the responsibility of ensuring that the project goes according to plan. So while you apply these tips, be sure to check from time to time—at least for a few minutes every visit.