What should I do before trades start work on my house?

Disputes on small jobs are rarely about the work itself. They are about a damaged floor, a car that could not get out, a dog that got through a gate, or a bathroom nobody could use for a day longer than expected. All of those are cheap to prevent by asking first.

Agree in advance, in writing

• Start date, expected duration, and daily hours.
• Access: keys, codes, whether anyone needs to be home, and who has the number if nobody is.
• Parking and where materials will be stacked.
• Which services will be interrupted, when, and for how long. Water and power outages are the ones that ruin a day.
• Protection of floors, stairs, fixtures and landscaping, and who reinstates what.
• Toilet and amenities arrangements on longer jobs.
• Whether pets and children need to be kept clear, and of what.

Do this yourself before day one

• Photograph the areas the work touches, and the access route, with dates.
• Move anything fragile, valuable or irreplaceable out of the work zone entirely.
• Locate and label the water main, the switchboard and the gas isolation valve.
• Tell the neighbours, particularly about noise, dust and any need to access from their side.
• Confirm insurance is in order, both the contractor's public liability and your own notification if the work is substantial.