Guidelines for Property Owners

Are you freaked out by the prospect of hiring a building contractor? Or are you in the midst of a project and feel at the mercy of the contractor?

Do you believe that if there are any honorable contractors at all you could count them on two hands?

Or perhaps you have more faith than that but you find the challenge of choosing a contractor and/or an architect and establishing a mutually satisfactory agreement totally daunting.

The fact is, choosing a contractor or an architect or anyone associated with the building trades IS an important choice that will have repercussions for you for years to come. Then, once you have made a choice and committed what is probably a significant amount of money, there is the challenge of the project itself and the ongoing relationships with the contractor and everyone else involved with your project. This is true whether it is a basic bathroom remodeling you are doing or the construction of a multi-million dollar home.

So, is there hope? Is there reliable guidance?

Yes and yes.

There are some basic steps you can follow that can greatly help you make good choices and then sleep at night as your work is being done.

And it all revolves around wisdom that has been around for thousands and thousands of years.

You want to feel that your interest is important to the people working for you. You want to feel that they are doing excellent work while carrying out the desired details. You want to feel that they are conscious of your money. It comes down to feeling safe, doesn’t it?

You want to feel safe. So does your contractor. So do all the people associated with your project. Do you all have a right to feel safe? Can you all feel safe at the same time without someone being shortchanged?

Absolutely.

Here is what I offer:

  • Guidelines for approaching a building or remodeling project, from the beginning to the end.
  • Information on the steps involved from planning through completion.
  • Guidelines for choosing an architect, a contractor…anyone involved in the project.
  • Support for feeling safe.
  • Support for opening and maintaining a healthy flow of communication.
  • Tips on things you can do to limit misunderstanding and dispute.
  • Mediation if needed.

What you can do next if you think I might be of help:

I don’t take sides. I work with the conviction that mutual benefit and even enjoyment can be shared by everyone involved. This approach has worked many times.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments. I tailor what I offer to the stories and feedback I hear.