Finding reliable help for home renos - what do you look for?

- Been there with the “snowstorm” aftermath - once had a crew leave so much drywall dust, I could’ve started a ski resort in my living room.
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“If something feels off before the work even starts, it’s probably not going to get better once demo begins.”

Couldn’t agree more. If they’re sketchy about cleanup, what else are they skipping?
- My go-to: I ask for references and actually call them. You’d be surprised how many folks skip that step.
- Also, I do random “pop-ins” during the job. Keeps everyone honest. One time I caught a guy painting over a light switch... with the switch still on.
- Shoe covers? Genius. I just hand out a box and say, “Pretend you’re at grandma’s.” Works every time.

Step one for me is always a detailed written quote - if they can’t give me that, I move on. I also ask who’s actually doing the work; sometimes subs get swapped in last minute and that’s when things go sideways. I’ve learned to keep a shop vac handy because even “good” crews seem to forget about dust. Not a fan of pop-ins myself (feels awkward), but I do text for photo updates. Caught a guy once using my good towels to wipe up paint... never again.

Not a fan of pop-ins myself (feels awkward), but I do text for photo updates. Caught a guy once using my good towels to wipe up paint...

I get the need for a detailed quote, but sometimes the best crews I’ve worked with are smaller outfits who aren’t as formal on paperwork. I’ll take a quick walk-through and a handshake if their references check out and they’re upfront about timelines. On the “pop-ins” - I actually do them, but I keep it casual, just dropping by with coffee or snacks. It’s less awkward than it sounds and keeps everyone on their toes. As for the towels... yeah, learned that lesson too. Now I just stash anything I care about before work starts.

I hear you on stashing stuff - after my last reno, I started locking up anything sentimental or irreplaceable. Even the best crews can be a bit rough around the edges. I’ve found smaller teams are more flexible, but sometimes that means less predictability. Do you ever ask for insurance or just trust your gut with references?

I never just go on gut feeling - too risky for my taste. I always ask for proof of insurance, and I check references, but honestly, I’ve still had surprises. One guy came highly recommended and managed to dent my fridge... accidents happen, but insurance saved me a headache. Smaller crews are easier to communicate with, but I double-check paperwork no matter what.