We have been remodeling staircases and installing iron spindles in Atlanta for more than 17 years. To that end, we like to think that we know a thing or two about what it takes to develop great relationships between customers and contractors. Over the years we have learned how to be a customer-centric contracting firm.

We would like to pass on some of the knowledge we have gleaned by providing some helpful tips for working with remodeling contractors. The tips in this post apply equally across the board. Whether you are replacing wood balusters with iron or are having a kitchen completely redone, you owe it to yourself and your family to have the best possible relationship you can with your contractor.

Establish Communication Channels

We have discovered that most of the avoidable problems in our industry boil down to poor communication. We encourage customers to establish communication channels with us from the onset. From the customer’s perspective, this means doing a few things.

First, ask your contractor how he/she prefers to communicate most of the time. Then commit to communicating that way. Next, meet with your contractor at the start of every day to go over any questions and concerns you might have. If you can speak again at the end of the day, that’s a bonus. Finally, make sure to get your contractor’s cell phone number even if that’s not the preferred method of communication. Sometimes phone calls are the only way.

Make Your Expectations Clear

Hand-in-hand with establishing communication channels are setting clear expectations. Let’s say you had contacted us to replace your old oak spindles with iron. It helps us to know exactly what you expect from the completed job. How ornate do you want your new spindles to be? How do you want them attached? Is there any other work you need done on the staircase?

Without clear expectations, contractors are left to guess. That’s never a good situation. Guesses lead to misunderstandings, which lead to disappointments and unhappy customers. So again, make your expectations clear at the onset of the job.

Make a Point of Being Friendly

We contractors are human beings, too. We are motivated to do our absolute best by customers who treat us with friendliness and respect. The simple act of being friendly goes a long way toward getting the best from contractors. On the other hand, being nasty and rude will not get you very far.

Be Sure You Understand Estimates

If poor communication is the number one problem between contractors and customers, a close second is misunderstood estimates. Contractors like us provide estimates so that customers have a fairly good idea of how much the job will cost.

Here’s the thing to understand: The Iron Spindle can give fairly accurate estimates because the work we do isn’t subject to a whole lot of overruns. The same is not true for other projects, like kitchen remodeling. The bigger the project, the greater the risk of going over budget. Thus, it is important that you understand estimates fully before you agree to anything.

For example, pay attention to any allowances included on your estimate. Allowances are essentially placeholders for costs that have not yet been anticipated. It’s best to avoid allowances whenever possible. Otherwise, pay attention to what contractors are spending under the allowance category.

If you’ve been thinking of installing iron stair spindles, we would love the opportunity to speak with you about your project. We have been serving Atlanta customers for nearly two decades. In the meantime, we hope you find these tips helpful whenever you deal with remodeling contractors.