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In most cases you will be living in your home while the work is being done on it. You should be aware of the many inconveniences that may occur. Exterior walls may be taken down, water and/or power shut off, or bathroom and kitchen facilities temporarily disconnected. Dust and debris might also damage your furniture or other personal possessions. before work begins, ask your contractor what inconveniences will occur, then to plan for them. That way, both you and your contractor can avoid conflict when inconveniences do occur.
It should include:
It is also a good idea to keep a record of each subcontractor who works on your
project, the work performed, and length of time on the job. When material suppliers make a
delivery, write down the name of the company, the date, and a general description of what
they delivered. When you receive lien releases from subcontractors or suppliers, check
them against your list. That way you will have a record of who has and has not been paid.
Permits, plans, and specifications
As a general rule, a building permit is required whenever structural work is involved or when the basic living area of a home is to be changed. For example, if you have a home with an unfinished basement, and would like to finish off a portion of it for a family room, you would need a building permit in most jurisdictions because you have changed the basic amount of living space in your house by converting storage space to "livable" space. In some cases, separate permits for electrical, heating and plumbing work may be required. The contractor should obtain the necessary building permits. This should be spelled out in your contract; otherwise you may be held legally responsible for failure to obtain the required permits. Zoning regulations differ from place to place, so if you are planning any alterations or additions to your home, your contractor should check with the zoning authorities to determine what permits or permission you need to proceed with your project. Make sure that you have copies of the signed contract and plans and specifications for your project. Resist the temptation to make any changes to the contract or plans and specifications verbally. Make sure all changes are in writing. The permit for your job, along with the project plans and specifications, must be posted on the job before the work begins. Check to make sure that they are. The government agency that issues a permit for home improvement work will inspect the work when it has reached a certain stage and when it is completed to make sure it complies with various codes and regulations. The contractor is responsible for arranging for these inspections. These inspections are not made to determine good work quality. You should, if at all possible, be present when inspections are made, ask questions, and make frequent inspections yourself. When a project is completed, the building department will make a final inspection. Make sure you also make a final inspection, or "walk-through," with your contractor to be certain there is nothing you or the contractor have overlooked.
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You should keep a file of all papers relating to your project.
Your contract
should call for the work to be performed in accordance with all applicable building codes.
Keep in mind that building codes only set minimum safety standards for construction; they
do not protect you against poor quality work.
