Communication

Effective communication is needed from all parties involved. To keep communication open, see some suggestions below:
· Delegate one primary spokesperson to avoid any confusion, but have an emergency back up in case the primary spokesperson is unavailable.
· Express questions and concerns immediately and look for solutions together. Use a continuing "Question & Answer Sheet" which should be checked twice a day and always hung in the same place. Both you and your contractor(s) can list questions and immediately deal with any issues before it's too late. Keep these sheets to create a journal of your communication. The Personal Project Organizer includes "Construction Q&A's" sheets for this sole purpose.
· Reaching the homeowner--make yourself available whenever possible and make sure that you leave any and all phone numbers where you can be reached so that you may discuss options quickly. Keep this list by the phone. The Personal Project Organizer includes a "Contact Information" sheet for your contractor's quick reference.
· Reaching the contractor--know when and at what phone numbers you can reach your contractor. Make a copy of the "Contact Information" sheet for your reference.
· Pre-arrange a weekly scheduled meeting (try for Monday) to discuss work completed and realistic goals for the upcoming week.
· Express appreciation for anything--it makes everyone feel better and work harder.