5 Things Your Contractor Wishes You Knew

Building your dream home is exciting and there’s a good chance that you’ve spent years thinking about what your new home would look like and where it will be located. That’s why it’s important to have a great relationship and strong communication with your contractor. Afterall, this is the team that will help make your dreams into a reality.

1. Be Nice
   This one seems pretty obvious, but you’d be surprised at what contractors have to deal with. You’ve heard the term “bridezilla” and every contractor has a story of a similar personality type with outrageous demands and behaviour that borders on abusive.
   
   Your home builders understand that building a new home can be stressful, and there’s a certain amount of emotion that comes along with that, but always err on the side of kindness. When you are nice to the team, they enjoy working with you and want to go the extra mile to make sure you are happy.

2. Contractors Aren’t Mind Readers
   Every person is different, with a unique set of needs and life experiences that help determine their likes and dislikes. While it might seem obvious to you that the upper cabinets impede the view, for others they additional cabinet space is welcomed.
   
   When you go to the hairdresser, you take a photo or clearly show your stylist how much hair you would like to cut off because your idea of “a bit” may differ from hers. It’s no different for contractors.

3. Change Orders Are Costly
   Once you’ve settled on the design and finishes for your new home, it’s time to stay clear of Houzz and Pinterest. There will always be a cool new product or a fun project going viral, but bringing that to your contractor once the work is started and the supplies are ordered is costly. Change orders can significantly increase your budget and add days, weeks, and even months to your project time.
   
   Your contractor knows that change orders are inevitable and they are prepared to head back to the drawing board or move things around again when you ask. Just know that in the end it will cost you.

4. Don’t Ask For An Opinion If You Don’t Want The Answer
   Sure, your contractor has probably seen it all, but that doesn’t mean that they have the same taste or lifestyle that you do. Asking your contractor and trades for their opinion and then loudly disagreeing makes it less likely that they will share their opinions and advice moving forward. If you truly want a second opinion or advice on a decision, you need to be prepared to hear that advice and consider it. It’s ok to disagree, but do it politely.

5. Your Thoughts Are Needed
   When it comes to building your new dream home, there are a lot of decisions to made and things to take into consideration. As the homeowner, you will need to be involved and ready to make decisions in a timely manner. When your contractor asks you to make a decision, ask them what the timeline is for the answer and then stick to that deadline. It will help keep the project on schedule and keep things running smoothly.
   
   You also need to avoid the temptation of having your contractor make your decisions for you, unless you really don’t have an opinion one way or the other. This is your home and you will be in it for the foreseeable future, so it needs to work for you. If you are really stuck, consider potential resale value should you choose to sell the house and make your decision based on what will be better for the value of your property.

When it comes to building your new custom home in Kelowna, The Highlands at Kettle Valley is a great community and we carefully screen our select builders to ensure great customer service and high-quality homes. If you have questions about the building process and our contractors, we invite you to contact the Discovery Centre at Kettle Valley by calling 1-800-764-2199.