- What processes do I need to have in place before work starts?
Be really clear about what you want done and how. Work out what is most important to you – getting it done on time, or getting it done “right”, looking good at the end. Make sure that you communicate this to the people you employ.
You need to have ticked all of the following boxes before you start
- Do you need a permit(s) for the work you are about to engage in? The best place to start with answering this question is by contacting your local council. If the answer is yes – get the appropriate permit(s).
- Have you employed the appropriate people to do the work? (are they registered building practitioners, do they have public liability and home owners warranty insurance, can you sit down and have a cup of coffee and a chat with them?)
- Have you set realistic start and finish dates?
- Have you got the funds for the renovation? Work out your cash flow requirements over the renovation period so that you can pay your tradesmen on time and still have food on your own table
- If you are living in the property as well, have you thought about what hours you want tradespeople to be there (weekdays only, not before 8am, not after 5pm) and have you specified what type of cleanliness standards you require? Do you have a communication book where they can write queries down and you can respond and vice versa?
- Have you worked out how people are to access the site – who will let them in, will you use a key safe lock or give set of keys given to the site manager? What security measures do you have in place?
- Do you have a contingency plan? What is it?
- What do you need to shift/move before works start so that the tradesmen have room to carry out their job?
- Share your objective, vision and feel with your tradesmen before they start work – so that they share your vision and know what is important to you as well.