To perform plumbing work, electrical wiring, heating installation, installation of lamps and plumbing fixtures, you need to involve specialists. Unprofessional performance of these works can cause damage to property and pose a danger to life and health of people.
Who to contact?
Be sure to consider the risks. If you hire a private trader or a team that does not have all the necessary documents on admission to work, you will face the impossibility of presenting claims to contractors.
Ideally, if a team of repairmen friends who are satisfied with their work will recommend you. It is doubly good if these acquaintances lived in a renovated apartment for at least a year - during this time visible and non-obvious flaws can be detected. In this situation, you will be confident in the professionalism of the workers. And in case of minor flaws in the apartment of acquaintances, you will know what to pay special attention to when interacting with the team.
When choosing a team, never put the cost of work first.
That is, you do not need to choose those who declare the lowest prices. Often, minimum prices are presented in order to interest the customer. And then, during the construction process, prices increase due to the detailing of work.
For example, in the presented estimate, the laying of parquet is indicated, costing $ 15 per square meter. Subsequently, this cost can increase to $ 25 and above. When asked by a surprised client, the contractor will answer that this was the price directly for laying, which does not include sanding and varnishing.
Therefore, studying the estimate provided by the contractor, specify what kind of work includes a particular item or require a detailed detailed estimate.
The second version of the "cheap brigade" may be even worse. Builders will work at low prices, but the quality of their work will be beyond criticism. At the same time, it is not at all necessary that builders will make a marriage on purpose. Most often, they simply do not have the qualifications to do the job well.
When negotiating with the construction team, check whether the workers have their own tools and equipment to perform the stated work. It is not uncommon for workers to ask the customer to buy a particular tool or pay a large advance payment that will be spent on the purchase of a tool. It is better not to mess with such builders.
Provision of the brigade with construction tools, as well as maintenance of these tools, should not be carried out at the expense of the customer. The maximum that can be paid to builders is consumables (drills, discs, sanding sheets, etc.).
Where to look for a construction team?
The easiest way to hire qualified builders is to contact a construction firm. Don't worry if your scope of work is small or you only need to complete one type of work. Many construction companies take on small amounts of work. Certainly, the smaller the volume, the higher the cost per square meter.
Search for builders on the Internet: pitfalls
Have you decided to look for contractors via the Internet? There are good firms and skilled private apartment renovation teams, but how not to make a mistake with the choice? Here are some tips on how to find the right ones:
- Do you think that you have found a good team or company? Search for “company name, teams + reviews” or “+black list” - people are always happy to share negative online. Has this company/company/team already "made" someone's house or repair from "dung and branches"? You will see it.
- Don't be fooled by a beautiful site with long laudatory reviews - making it cheaper than paying for the work of professional workers, and reviews are easy to order. It could be Horns and Hooves, a one-day firm that will sell your contacts to another firm or team that you have no idea about.
- Look at the contacts on the site: if only mobile numbers are indicated, but not the address of the office, these are private traders.
All statutory documents must be posted on the website. - Another sign of a conscientious contractor is the ability to pay by bank transfer.
- Try to familiarize yourself with the portfolio of the company / team. If the gallery is presented on the site and looks too attractive, make sure that this is not a 3D visualization (the interior looks perfect, there are no people in it, the weather is sunny) and that photos are not stolen from other, possibly even foreign sites (check with Google-Search by pictures).
- Private teams may not have a portfolio at all - feel free to ask for contacts of previous customers, call them. Professionals have nothing to hide!
- Find out about the composition of the brigade. Ideally, you should get to know the designer, foreman, and employees before signing a contract.
- A serious company or the right team never they will not tell you the full cost of the repair if you have not seen the object yet and did not carry out the necessary measurements and calculations. When making an estimate together with the foreman / foreman / representative of the company, please note that the final cost may be higher than the initial one (purchase of building materials, breakage of tools in the process of work).
Working with a construction company gives the client a number of advantages.
- You can see the finished or under construction objects of this contractor. If possible, it is desirable to examine both of them. On completed objects you will see the final quality of construction work, on those under construction - the organization of the construction process.
- The second positive point is that you will solve all the issues that arise during construction not with the builders (workers), but with the responsible person (foreman or head of the company).
If you don't have too much money, try hiring a construction team, using advertisements in advertising publications or the advice of your friends. When hiring a team of builders, sign a contract with them. Referring to a written source is always preferable to an oral agreement.
What should alert
1. Too low price tag. Professional workers know their worth and will always find a well-paid job. And if you are offered to renovate a living space for a cost that is half that of what others are offering for the same work, you should not be too happy. Most likely, in front of you are novice repairmen who, at best, will do everything twice as long as you plan, at worst - they will do it so badly that then you will have to turn to more expensive masters.
As an option, ordinary swindlers can also assign a low cost. The calculation is very simple: someone will fall for the cheapness, pay an advance payment, with which the scammers will hide.
2. It is better not to get involved with teams involved in several sites. All right, if the workers are simultaneously repairing one apartment. Especially if the finishing stages are different - there is already a finishing touch, where masters for laying laminate and wallpapering are involved, and for now yours only needs wall leveling specialists. Otherwise, the terms of delivery of your apartment may be delayed. In addition, when trying to finish work faster and move on to another order, quality may suffer.
3. Workers who call themselves specialists in plumbing, electrics, and in the construction of partitions, etc. should be alert. Of course, there are professionals who are able to do everything, but they still need to be looked for. To avoid trouble with wiring or leaky pipes for work that requires a certain skill, it is better to involve narrow specialists.
The inattentive pays more
If you want to get a really good apartment renovation, do not be lazy - pay attention to the following points.
Get into the budget. Make sure that all the necessary work is indicated in it - otherwise it will start later: “who will pay for the baseboards?”, “We also hung the door here ...” - and the total cost of the repair will be more than previously stated. Room for scams!
You may not know exactly how much the skirting boards cost and how the installation of the door is paid - nothing will prevent cunning craftsmen from indicating a larger amount, the difference is in their pocket. The smaller footage of the premises is indicated, the discount of the contractor who purchases building materials from the supplier is “forgotten”, the “left” items in the estimate (for example, you do not have to pay for the installation of scaffolding) - all this increases the cost of work! The amounts in the estimate and in the contract must match.
Control the "hidden" side of the work - rough finishing of surfaces, laying of electrical wiring and heating. If there are "jambs" subsequent alteration will hit the wallet hard. The rough finish of the bathroom is cement plaster, other rooms are plaster, fix this in the contract, The price of finishing depends on the type of plaster.
Feel free to invite technicians from the organization responsible for the operation of the building to take over the engineering communications and put their signatures on the act of acceptance. If an accident occurs - fire, short circuit, pipe break - the team or company will be held responsible for poor quality work.
There are no trifles and delays (“then it will equalize itself”) in repair work! Do you want to “admire” protruding seams, loose joints, inaccurately pasted wallpaper, unevenly painted surfaces, crookedly installed switches and sockets in the wrong places?
Do you love skewed doors and non-closing windows? Be sure to track how the work is done in these areas. Describe any shortcomings and set a deadline for their correction.
The final act of acceptance of all work must be signed by the contractor and you. The date of signing is the beginning of the warranty period for the work (the contract must contain information about this period!). Until the designated date, employees are required to eliminate all shortcomings and defects - and do it free of charge.
Plan and estimate
Before you start breaking down walls, moving partitions, changing wiring, you need to think about the repair to the smallest detail. First of all, you need to decide whether redevelopment is needed, where the sockets (and, accordingly, household appliances), kitchen sets, and furniture will be located.
Experienced workers should help plan - they will tell you if you forgot the sockets and where the kitchen apron should be. Ask the foreman to calculate the approximate cost of materials - this way you will have an idea of \u200b\u200bthe amount that the repair will cost and save yourself from unexpected expenses. And at the same time, make sure at the very first stage whether you can find a common language with this particular team and whether it suits you.
How to check the repair team?
Make sure that the repair team has all the necessary documents: passports, construction college diplomas or other documents confirming the qualifications of the master. Certification documents confirming the competence of a specialist are issued at the Centers for Further Education, which conduct training programs for the preparation of finishers, painters, plasterers, tilers, and finishing specialists.
Check the experience of repair specialists and ask if they have a portfolio, reviews and recommendations from previous clients. A good specialist will never refuse to demonstrate examples of his successful work.
Pay attention to whether a potential contractor asks you questions about the specifics of the object, the features of the project, and how the process will be organized. Qualified craftsmen, before voicing the cost of repairs, come to the site to draw up an estimate, which is needed in order to calculate the amount of repair costs. Make sure that all organizational moments are documented. It is important to understand what work will be done, and for what exactly you will pay money to the repair team. There is an estimate - we work on it.
Questions that a good master should clarify:
- House type.
- What type of repair are you interested in?
- Terms, schedule and mode of operation.
- Will the team live in the apartment during the repair or come every day.
If the repair specialist does not ask additional questions, this should alert you and make you doubt his professionalism. Imagine that at a clinic appointment, the doctor does not ask you clarifying questions and prescribes treatment as soon as you voice your complaint. Strange, isn't it? It's the same here. In fact, repair is the same treatment that requires the collection of a detailed history.
It is better to talk about all organizational issues right away, do not be afraid to discuss “inconvenient” details: your own comfort and peace of mind in the coming weeks (and months) depends on this. When the issues are settled, you can begin to draw up an agreement in which all these points will be spelled out. In the contract, you must specify the rights and obligations of the parties.
How to build relationships with builders?
Specify in advance the technologies and materials used and do not pester the builders with unnecessary questions (“why are you doing this?”) And unnecessary advice (“but my neighbor said what needs to be done differently”).
It is necessary to keep under control, first of all, the compliance of the progress of work with the calendar schedule. Not all construction teams are capable of high-quality implementation of complex technical solutions. Discuss these points ahead of time. And if the builders are not confident in their abilities, then it is better to change the decision than to remake a complex element of decor ten times later.
Costs and supervision
Usually workers are engaged in the purchase of rough finishing materials. This is logical, since they understand them better. Yes, and plaster is not wallpaper; when buying it, you can do without the personal presence of the owner of the living space. However, entrusting the purchase of materials for repairs to the brigade, still need to control the process. Otherwise, seeing your indifference, the workers may start carouseling with materials - buying too much to resell on the site of free classifieds (or your neighbors), and put the money in their pocket.Feel free to demand receipts for every purchase and account for every bag.
Also, the repair process itself should not be left to chance, otherwise it may drag on indefinitely. If the workers are not urged on, they will not rush anywhere, but in parallel they will take on other apartments.
Therefore, it is imperative to inspect the construction site at least once a week, and preferably twice, and check each stage of the repair: the alignment of the walls, the installation of tiles and plumbing in the bathroom, and wallpapering, and painting the walls.
What should be in the contract with the repair team?
First of all, make sure that the contract clearly states the deadlines that the repair team must meet. Lawyers also advise to indicate a penalty, this will give you guarantees and a share of peace of mind, because repair, as you know, is a nervous occupation, even if you just have to control the process.
Next, you should indicate what kind of work will be carried out in your apartment. Do not forget to write down the exact address of the place of the planned repair, as well as the initial, intermediate and final dates.
Do not neglect the points where the quality requirements will be indicated, which most often means the finishing of the ceiling, walls, floor coverings and screeds, installation and dismantling of heating systems. It is customary to carry out such work in accordance with certain standards, because it is important that the repair is not only beautiful, but also of high quality.
And, of course, the material side of the issue, which is also necessarily prescribed in the contract. The calculation procedure is indicated, it can be of two types: upon completion and on prepayment. This moment is decided individually by the customers and the contractor.
Under a construction contract, the repair team undertakes to perform all work efficiently and on time, while the customer is obliged to create all the necessary conditions for the performance of the work and, accordingly, pay for it upon completion.
The contract must include:
- Type of repair (cosmetic, major).
- Price.
- Timing.
- Payment for repairs and materials.
- Obligations of the parties (including who will select and purchase building materials and how to deliver them).
- How the acceptance will take place (better - by the stages of repair).
- Warranty obligations.
- Responsibility of both parties for the failure of obligations, their poor performance, failure to meet deadlines.
- Force majeure circumstances.
- Conditions and procedure for termination of the contract.
How to minimize the risks during the repair?
In order to competently approach the repair and draw up an agreement with the repair team, you will have to at least briefly understand the topic: navigate the materials market, familiarize yourself with the technologies that will be used at each stage of the process. Of course, you don't need to learn all of this in detail, but it's good to have a basic understanding. You will feel much more confident if you have at least a rough idea of what happens to your apartment during the renovation.
In any case, turning to specialists is a sound decision, especially if you are not sure of your own capabilities. The repair team, following a clear plan, will be able to perform all the work efficiently and on time.
How to pay
Repair is divided into several stages: dismantling, installation of communications, construction of partitions, leveling of floors, walls and ceilings, fine finishing. If you agreed with the foreman to work in stages, then you also need to pay for the work in stages: they removed the old wallpaper - paid, replaced the wiring - here's another translation for you.
It is better to indicate each stage in the contract and estimate.: it will be easier to understand how much you spent on materials and work. Builders must keep all receipts for an interim report, then they can always answer the customer's financial questions.
Errors when choosing builders
- The most common mistake people make is not entering into an agreement with random peoplewho often have a very vague idea of the services they provide. It's too late to grab your head when the brigade left, leaving behind peeling wallpaper and burning wiring. The solution of these problems in hindsight usually ends in nothing, and at best, costs a lot of money to the victim. On the other hand, any self-respecting company or private team will conclude an agreement with you and give a guarantee for the work.
- Do not admire the colorful albums and picturesque photographs on the site - any reputable organization will not mind organizing your personal visit to the already commissioned objects and will provide reviews or coordinates of previous clients. Do not follow the eloquent businessmen, stunning photographs of luxury apartments taken from other people's portfolios or foreign magazines.
- Rely on the first impression, it is rarely deceiving. The beginning of a business relationship should always be preceded by a personal meeting and at least a minimal personal sympathy.This will greatly help in the work, since it is difficult to communicate with a foreman who behaves inappropriately or dismissively, even if he is at least three times a professional. Remember - You are not required to know the intricacies of the building trade and this is not a shortcoming that should cause condescending attitude among the craftsmen.
- From the first day of work, put yourself in charge. This is your apartment, this is your house and You have the right to make comments on the merits and dictate your terms. You pay for the service and can safely express your wishes and comments, even if in a clumsy and unprofessional manner. You are not a builder - you are a customer and your word is law.
- One of the most important points that is often neglected is the drafting of a formal contract.signed by both parties. Remember, in case of trouble, if you manage to find unlucky "specialists" and bring the case to court, then before the law Your words will be against the words of your opponents, and this does not at all guarantee the understanding and support of human rights activists. At the same time, the contract in which the services of your employees are stipulated is a serious document that you have to reckon with.
- Wnegotiate the cost in advance, such moments as the purchase of building materials, their delivery, the availability of a special tool from the contractor. No one will argue that in the course of work, unforeseen moments can always arise, but it is better to minimize them. It is unpleasant to know that instead of replacing the linoleum, you will also have to pay extra for dismantling the floor screed and installing a new one, especially when you do not count on it, and the floors have already been torn off.
- You should also be alerted by "specialists" who, right in the office or by phone, name the cost of work without seeing the object. It is better to stay away from such "gentlemen of fortune" - their services will become more expensive with every day of repair.
- If you are busy and cannot control the execution of work, ask friends or neighbors to visit your apartment during the day. A prolonged absence of visible activity and construction noise is an alarming sign, especially if there is no contract or the terms for the completion of the object are not specified in it.
- stipulate How will the procurement process take place? – it will save your nerves and money. It’s not bad at all if you make the first visit to a hardware store or a wholesale base with a foreman - this will allow you to immediately reach mutual understanding and help avoid misunderstandings in the future.
- Do not hesitate to bring an independent expert from your acquaintances or even from another company to the apartment being renovated. For real professionals, this is not offensive or prejudicial.
- You should not go to the site every day unnecessarily - this often annoys the masters, and in a small apartment it also interferes with the work process. Business relations are also usually hindered by familiar conversations “for life” and the appearance of a customer in a state of intoxication. Do not give a reason to treat you with disdain or familiarity.
- The main rule - remember that repairs end sooner or later, but human relationships remain. It will be great if, despite all the working moments and disputes, you part with the contractors easily, leaving pleasant impressions about each other. This will help you next time, even when you just call the foreman to find out how the bathroom faucet is disassembled and get free and friendly advice.
