Hold on! Your home improvement project isn’t done until you do these 6 things

You’re so close to the finish line. The home improvement project you’ve dreamed of for days, months, maybe even years, is about to become a reality. So, congratulations. All that time and money you’ve invested is about to pay off. Phew!

But you’re not there quite yet. Before you can call it a wrap on your home improvement project, even if the actual work is done, you need to take some important actions to ensure you’re satisfied with the end result. Don’t consider your project done until you do these six things.

You hired a general contractor you trust. You paid attention as the project progressed. Now you need to schedule a walkthrough with your contractor to ensure the finished product meets your expectations. 

A walkthrough is essential to confirm that the work performed matches what was outlined in your contract.

• Note and document any defects, including any areas that may be unfinished or need to be touched up. 
• Get a demonstration of any appliances or equipment that may have come as part of the project.
• Ask questions about materials used or best practices for maintaining the work that was done.

If everything looks and operates as expected, then that’s great. Confirm with your contractor that you approve of the work, then sign off on completion. But if you have any hesitations or concerns, your walkthrough is when those issues need to be addressed.

You wouldn’t buy a car without seeing how it drives first, right? Or, at the very least, seeing if the car drives? Get the same confirmation level for any systems or appliances attached to your home improvement project. 

If you received a home renovation, test every system, appliance, and fixture to ensure each is working and installed correctly. Lights should turn on, water should run, and heating and cooling systems should operate as expected. And if that isn’t the case, let your contractor know so they can take any needed follow-up actions.

Depending on the type and scope of your home improvement project, you may be required to finalize permits and/or pass inspections before officially closing the book on the work. Building permits, electrical inspections, and plumbing inspections commonly need to be completed following home renovation projects. If those are left unfinished, the consequences may be steep:

• Legal issues. You could face fines, penalties, and even legal action from local building authorities.

• Financial issues. Selling your house or refinancing your mortgage could be complicated or made impossible. Plus, if your home was damaged during the project, insurance may not cover the cost of repairs.

• Safety issues. Fires, water damage, and even a structural collapse could all be in your future. Unsafe or improperly installed electrical, plumbing or structural systems invites risk into your home.

Your contractor should be responsible for obtaining permits and scheduling inspections, so again, you must hire someone with a proven track record of fulfilling those obligations. Don’t make a final payment until those boxes are checked.

If your contractor lived up to their end of your contract, then it’s time for you to do the same by making your final payment. 

Many homeowners opt to pay in stages rather than all at once, so they can monitor the project's progress and confirm it is completed to their satisfaction. Retaining a percentage of the payment for a period after the work is done isn’t uncommon either; it protects the homeowner in case defects or any other issues arise from the work performed.

Whatever payment structure is reflected in your contract, your home improvement project (and that contract) isn’t finished until you’ve paid the balance of what you owe.

Related Resource: BBB Dispute Handling and Resolution

This is a final step you absolutely do not want to skip. You just had an excellent experience with your general contractor. They met – maybe even exceeded – expectations, and now you get to enjoy the fruits of their labor. As an expert on what it's like to work with your contractor, your insights are a big deal to the next customers planning a project. You are responsible for letting everyone know how great things went by leaving a positive customer review of their work online.

By leaving a review on sites such as BBB.org, where customers look to research their purchasing decisions, you’re helping reliable, ethical, honest companies gain more business. Plus, customers rely on reviews to learn about the quality of work they can expect - just like you did. Finish your home improvement project by helping someone else start theirs with the right contractor.