Why you should have a contractor work on your home while you are on vacation

(Plus strategies for finding a trustworthy contractor)

Do you have a vacation home? Maybe you travel for weeks or months at a time, or maybe you are a snowbird who spends part of the year at each of your homes. And like any homeowner, you have projects you want done.

But you live in your house, right?

The question is, why waste your precious time living in a construction zone?

Construction projects, done by even the most organized contractor are, by their very nature, noisy, and can be disruptive to your life: contractors and subcontractors calling you to get in and out of your house, masked off areas preventing you from accessing certain areas of your home, construction noise, etc.

So what is the alternative?

Go on vacation! Coordinate with a contractor to plan your project before you leave, then come back to a beautifully finished project.

How is this better?

EFFICIENCY: The contractor and subcontractors are able to access your home when they need to and you don’t have to worry about whether it coordinates with your schedule.

CLEANLINESS: While you are gone, project areas of your home can be masked off and not have to be taken down until the project is finished, keeping your home cleaner. An added option can be to have the contractor hire a cleaning service so you come back to a sparkling clean home.

But I am worried about giving someone access to my home while I am away.

HERE ARE 3 STRATEGIES TO FIND A TRUSTWORTHY TRADESMAN:

1) Look for contractors/tradesmen who have an established reputation and longevity in your community. Memberships in local organizations, such as the Elks or Chamber of Commerce, can be good indicators.

2) Ask if they are insured. They should be able to provide you proof of liability insurance.

3) Have a conversation with them in person, and trust your gut. Are you going to be a valued customer to them, or simply a number?

Bon Voyage!