5 Ways To Prepare for Your Next Job as a Contractor

The worst thing for both the contractor and the homeowner is when something goes wrong on the job, and a project ends up taking twice as long to finish. While this is often something that many companies overlook, it takes a lot of preparation to prepare for a job. After all, you want to spend a few days in someone's home, not weeks. So here are a few tips that can help you prepare so your jobs can go smoothly and finish quicker. 

1. Restroom Facilities

Before you worry about buying tough laptops or packing your tools, you need to determine where you and your workers will be able to use the restroom. At the end of the day, your primary options include using the clients' restrooms if you have permission, renting a portable toilet, or leaving the site to hit the nearest rest stop or fast-food chain. The ideal option is using the clients' toilets if you have permission, because renting a portable toilet costs money, and leaving the site can cause delays. 

2. Area Prep

You should instruct your clients ahead of time to remove all of their personal items from the area you will be working. Before you start your project, be sure that your clients have removed all of their furniture, decorations, clothing, tools, books, electronics, prescription medications, valuables, and other personal belongings from the area that you and your team will be working, as well as the guest bathroom if you have permission to use it.

This will reduce the chances of them claiming that you've stolen from them if an item goes missing amid the construction chaos. It will also reduce the potential for damage to your client's personal belongings with an equipment mishap or other mistake. Both of these can harm your business' image, which can cause problems when it comes to finding future work. They can also slow down the progress you make on a job. 

3. Cleaning Supplies

You should never go to a site without arming yourself with the necessary wipes and other cleaning supplies you need. Be sure that cleanliness is one of your priorities, and you bring anything you will need to ensure you don't leave a mess in your clients' homes. This includes cleaning up the building materials, dust, and any potentially hazardous materials you may encounter in a home. It also means bringing enough to clean up the trail of materials that you will leave between the worksite and the exit. 

4. Pets

When you offer general services, you need to ensure that your clients lock up any of their pets, especially aggressive ones or animals with anxiety issues. Aggressive or anxious animals are more likely to attack you and your workers, which can slow down progress. Aside from protecting you from these animals, it is also a good way to ensure the safety of your client's pets. After all, you don't want to harm them on the job and face a lawsuit or other negative reaction. 

5. Lunch

Lastly, you need to bring snacks and cool drinks to keep yourself and your workers happy on the job. While there is always the option of letting your workers leave for lunch, it is often best to keep them at the job so you can finish faster. This is because you don't have to worry about waiting for them to return after their break, which can leave you and your crew waiting aimlessly if someone is running late. 

You have plenty of things to think about before you start your next project as a contractor. However, taking proper right precautionary measures is important because it can help you avoid wasted time and other inconveniences that can cause a job to fall behind schedule. By following this list, you can ensure that you have taken all the necessary steps to prepare so that your next project goes smoothly and finishes faster.