TheBathOutlet / Home Improvement Etiquette: Contractor's Point of View
Home Improvement Etiquette: Contractor's Point of View
When it comes to home improvement etiquette, most people aren't quite sure what to do after they hire the contractor. Do they tip them? Offer food and beverages? Hide their valuables? Previously, we surveyed hundreds of homeowners to get answers to those questions and more. Through this study, we learned that a majority of homeowners don't tip their contractors, will offer beverages, and stow away their valuables. Now, we've flipped the script to ask contractors those same questions - and some of the results might surprise you!
When asked if they expected to receive a tip for their work, almost 88% of respondents said no. Some said it isn't expected but appreciated if they are given one. Others said it depends on how big the job is and how long they worked but even in that case, they don't expect much. With that being said, the majority of participants like to receive a good review after a job well done.
Contractors want their clients to feel as comfortable as possible when they are having work done on their home. Since security and privacy is a top priority for any homeowner, the responses were split pretty evenly when asked if contractors expect homeowners to give them their house key or pass code.
"We ask that they are there at the beginning of the first day and if they can't be there during the project, at least give us a way to get in the home to work on their project," said one participant.
Overall, it seemed that the length of the job and the homeowner's level of comfort played the biggest factor in this situation. One respondent said, " Sometimes we get this if the customer is away. We leave it up to the customer as to what they want to do. If the customer isn't comfortable leaving a key, that is fine. We will work around their schedule."
About 71% of participants said it didn't matter whether the homeowner was present or not during the job. A commonality in the responses was that contractors don't want to be micromanaged, however they would like someone around if a question or problem arises.
More than half of the participants said they would take off their shoes when they enter a client's home. Most seem to takes cues directly from the homeowner or determine it by the client's culture. One painting contractor said, "Sales staff may remove their shoes during the estimate. Due to job site safety the painters are required to wear shoes. However, they can and will wear booties over their shoes if requested."
Close to 58% of respondents said they expect homeowners to put away their valuables before they begin working on their home. They also expect the homeowner to remove any small or fragile items laying around the workspace so there are less chances of things being broken. Contractors are also aware that many homeowners have trust issues when it comes to bringing strangers into their homes.
"I would not enter a person's home with any coworker that I cannot trust or might steal something from the homeowner," said one contractor. "We are a trustworthy company, and if homeowners can't trust us to be inside their homes and not steal something than we have failed as a company."
Almost all of the participants (96.43%) said they do not expect the homeowner to provide them with food or beverage when they are working. Though they don't expect it, homeowners usually offer them a drink. One participant said being offered water is always nice.
Sixty-one percent of respondents said they ask for permission to use a client's bathroom. One participant said, "We always ask if we can use a bathroom and which one. We keep it clean." While another said, "I ask if they care but on a one week job, I will get a Porta Potty."
Conversations regarding the scope of work, daily updates or the quality of the work seem to be common amongst contractors and homeowners. About 47% of contractors prefer to be left alone as opposed to conversing with their clients while they're working to ensure the job gets done in timely fashion.
"Be friendly, but also mindful that the customer is paying us to paint, not carry-on conversation," said one painting contractor.
Across the board, almost all contractors (94.64% of those surveyed) want homeowners to put their pets in a cage or keep them contained/out of the home while the work is going on. Not just for their own safety but for the pets safety as well.
About 63% of contractors said they do not expect to be given permission to take smoke breaks. Most respondents said that they don't even hire anyone that smokes; however, those that allow their workers to smoke say their employees must do it outside the home and their smoke breaks should align with regular breaks.
Overall, these results show that contractors want their clients to be comfortable and satisfied with the outcome of the job. As one painting contractor said, "Leave the home in better condition than you find it. Treat the home as if it were your mother's." Each home is different but a good contractor follows the individual homeowner's rules and respects them. Great relationships can be formed when there is good communication between a contractor and homeowner.
Supplemental Facts:
-56% of participants were painters, 29% were general contractors, 6% were electricians, 4% were plumbers
-5% of participants made up a combination of water treatment installers, fireplace installers and heat and air conditioning contractors
-30% of participants have been a contractor for 5 years or less while 25% have been one for 20 years or more
-76% of participants were the business owner
-90% of participants identified as male while 10% identified as female
When asked if they expected to receive a tip for their work, almost 88% of respondents said no. Some said it isn't expected but appreciated if they are given one. Others said it depends on how big the job is and how long they worked but even in that case, they don't expect much. With that being said, the majority of participants like to receive a good review after a job well done.
Contractors want their clients to feel as comfortable as possible when they are having work done on their home. Since security and privacy is a top priority for any homeowner, the responses were split pretty evenly when asked if contractors expect homeowners to give them their house key or pass code.
"We ask that they are there at the beginning of the first day and if they can't be there during the project, at least give us a way to get in the home to work on their project," said one participant.
Overall, it seemed that the length of the job and the homeowner's level of comfort played the biggest factor in this situation. One respondent said, " Sometimes we get this if the customer is away. We leave it up to the customer as to what they want to do. If the customer isn't comfortable leaving a key, that is fine. We will work around their schedule."
About 71% of participants said it didn't matter whether the homeowner was present or not during the job. A commonality in the responses was that contractors don't want to be micromanaged, however they would like someone around if a question or problem arises.
More than half of the participants said they would take off their shoes when they enter a client's home. Most seem to takes cues directly from the homeowner or determine it by the client's culture. One painting contractor said, "Sales staff may remove their shoes during the estimate. Due to job site safety the painters are required to wear shoes. However, they can and will wear booties over their shoes if requested."
Close to 58% of respondents said they expect homeowners to put away their valuables before they begin working on their home. They also expect the homeowner to remove any small or fragile items laying around the workspace so there are less chances of things being broken. Contractors are also aware that many homeowners have trust issues when it comes to bringing strangers into their homes.
"I would not enter a person's home with any coworker that I cannot trust or might steal something from the homeowner," said one contractor. "We are a trustworthy company, and if homeowners can't trust us to be inside their homes and not steal something than we have failed as a company."
Almost all of the participants (96.43%) said they do not expect the homeowner to provide them with food or beverage when they are working. Though they don't expect it, homeowners usually offer them a drink. One participant said being offered water is always nice.
Sixty-one percent of respondents said they ask for permission to use a client's bathroom. One participant said, "We always ask if we can use a bathroom and which one. We keep it clean." While another said, "I ask if they care but on a one week job, I will get a Porta Potty."
Conversations regarding the scope of work, daily updates or the quality of the work seem to be common amongst contractors and homeowners. About 47% of contractors prefer to be left alone as opposed to conversing with their clients while they're working to ensure the job gets done in timely fashion.
"Be friendly, but also mindful that the customer is paying us to paint, not carry-on conversation," said one painting contractor.
Across the board, almost all contractors (94.64% of those surveyed) want homeowners to put their pets in a cage or keep them contained/out of the home while the work is going on. Not just for their own safety but for the pets safety as well.
About 63% of contractors said they do not expect to be given permission to take smoke breaks. Most respondents said that they don't even hire anyone that smokes; however, those that allow their workers to smoke say their employees must do it outside the home and their smoke breaks should align with regular breaks.
Overall, these results show that contractors want their clients to be comfortable and satisfied with the outcome of the job. As one painting contractor said, "Leave the home in better condition than you find it. Treat the home as if it were your mother's." Each home is different but a good contractor follows the individual homeowner's rules and respects them. Great relationships can be formed when there is good communication between a contractor and homeowner.
Supplemental Facts:
-56% of participants were painters, 29% were general contractors, 6% were electricians, 4% were plumbers
-5% of participants made up a combination of water treatment installers, fireplace installers and heat and air conditioning contractors
-30% of participants have been a contractor for 5 years or less while 25% have been one for 20 years or more
-76% of participants were the business owner
-90% of participants identified as male while 10% identified as female