Questions You Shouldn’t Ask A Home Improvement Contractor
When it comes to home improvement and design, a good relationship often comes down to trust. But there are certain questions homeowners ask that are a dead give away that, honestly, means they’re a pain. Good contractors and designers like Kelly Morisseau and Sean Lintow Jr. see this from a mile away.
So, to send the good contractors running ask: “How much does a deck cost”? The smart ones know you have dangerously little idea what’s happening. Another: Can you sharpen your pencil? Asked politely, it recognizes the importance of budgets and working together. Asked differently it simply means: Can
you make less money?
To get contractors you can trust: Ask questions that respect their skill and intelligence—and the place you live. “What can I expect from the process,” is one Kelly and Sean recommend. More doozies: Can I see your markup? Can you install this flea market find?
To help manage stress in large projects Kelly and Sean point out that the pace of work ebbs and flows: Sean shares a smart chart that shows stress points. And Kelly? She has a ‘bartender budget’—an invite for food and drinks about 3/4 of the way through the project when it feels like it’ll never get done.
Ask the right questions.
This round is on us.
Check out our hangout with Sean and Kelly that originally aired on Monday, August 18th at 1pmET, and share your questions and suggestions for a what you should ask a remodeler below in the comments section, or send us a note on myfixituplife@myfixituplife.com.
Click here to see more from Sean Lintow Sr. and Kelly Morisseau.
If you’ve never watched Google+ hangouts, here’s what you need to know to check it out.
MyFixitUpLife hosts Mark and Theresa are hosting LIVE Google+ Hangouts every weekday at 1pmET.
You’ll be able to ask your questions and make comments on G+, Twitter, FB, and/or YouTube during every interview. And we’ll be ready to share the answers live on MyFixitUpLife LIVE!
So here’s the lowdown on Google+ Hangouts:
What is a G+ hangout?
It’s a live video chat hosted publicly by MyFixitUpLife on the MyFixitUpLife talk Google+ account. You don’t need a Google+ account to watch.
How can I watch?
You can watch on the Google+ Hangout event page on MyFixitUpLife.com or Google+. If you have a G+ account, you can RSVP and let your friends know you’re going. You can also email, tweet, Facebook, or even face-to-face invite friends to watch.
Do I need a G+ account?
You do not have to have an account to watch the hangout. You can watch on YouTube, on Google+ or on MyFixitUpLife.com.
What if I miss the hangout?
You can watch every Google+ Hangout later on our MyFixitUpLife YouTube channel.
[…] video makes selection easier. We show 17 tips we use to hire a contractor that no one ever talks about. From how to pay to where to park to referrals you can trust we think […]