Today I read an interesting post by a home owner that does quite a bit of home improvement to her home. She also happens to be the wife of a contractor and it was really nice to hear another "contractors" point of view. To call myself a contractor isn't really all that accurate seeing that I don't actually do the work. However, in my day to day work for my employer I do run a division of a construction company so I feel the brunt of complaints, mis-understandings and the day to day pitfalls of the Contractor/Owner relationship.
One great piece of advice that the woman shared was being fully prepared as the owner before taking on renovations and construction projects. This is particularly true when you hire contractors and other trades people to do work for you. Having a solid plan, adequate financing and an appropriate time line in mind is more than half the battle. The other half of the battle is finding contractors with good references and a personality that works well for you.
Take the time to find out about other projects the contractor has done. There is nothing more telling than getting feedback from the other folks in your community that have worked with the contractor. By taking a bit of time to check the references you're sure to find someone that does quality work on time. Sometimes the lowest estimate can end up costing much more due to a blown schedule or shoddy work.
Another great piece of advice is making sure you have a good budget and a contingency set aside. Even the best plans and a careful estimate will usually result in a few changes. It's very difficult to estimate each and every job accurately. Just make sure to ask questions about how the contractor handles change orders. If the contractor tells you not to worry about it that is typically your first clue that things might not end up the way you want. Most contractors will give you a scope that describes what you're going to get for the price. They will typically also tell you that unforeseen conditions and changes in that scope will be billed separately based on time and materials.
The final piece of advice I'll give you is to make sure you've thought out your plans ahead of time. Whether it be using an architect, friend or designer the extra time planning will always help a project run smoother with less headaches.
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