Finding reliable help for home renos—what do you look for?
That “time-lapse of nothing happening” is painfully familiar. I’ve had stretches where it felt like the only thing changing was the dust pattern on the floor. I don’t think it’s just gut feeling, though—there are some concrete things you can look for. When I was interviewing contractors for my place (old brick, lots of quirks), I started asking about their process for updates. The ones who could show me a sample weekly summary or even just describe how they’d keep me posted seemed more organized. The ones who got defensive or vague about it? Red flag.
I don’t think asking for sample updates is overkill at all, especially if you frame it as wanting to understand their style. Most pros have done enough jobs that they can pull up an old email or text thread (with names redacted) to show how they communicate. If they balk at that, it tells you something.
I totally get not wanting a blow-by-blow. I asked one guy to send photos every Friday and a quick note if anything major came up in between. That struck a good balance—enough info to feel in control, but not so much that I was micromanaging. It’s awkward at first, but I found that being upfront about what makes you comfortable actually helps both sides.
One thing I learned the hard way: if someone seems too eager to reassure you that “everything’s fine” without specifics, that’s usually when things aren’t fine. The best folks I’ve worked with are the ones who’ll admit when something’s off and bring solutions, not just problems.
It’s definitely a weird dance between trust and oversight. But if someone’s good at their job, they’ll get why you want clarity and won’t take it personally. If they do, that’s probably your answer right there...
I get the need for regular updates, but honestly, I’ve seen some of the best tradespeople who aren’t great at emails or weekly summaries—they just get the work done right. Sometimes too much focus on communication style means you miss out on real skill. I’d rather see their portfolio in person or talk to past clients than judge them by how organized their inbox is. Not everyone’s a natural communicator, but that doesn’t always mean they’re unreliable.
Totally get what you’re saying. I’ve had folks who barely text back but their work is basically art. That said, for my old house, I do like a quick heads-up if something’s gonna get weird—like “hey, your wall’s full of 1920s newspaper.” But yeah, I’d rather see their work in person than read a perfect email.
I’ve had folks who barely text back but their work is basically art.
I get the appeal of seeing the work in person, but for me, communication is almost as important as skill. If something’s off, I want to know ASAP, not stumble on it later.
- "I do like a quick heads-up if something’s gonna get weird" — same here, but I’d actually put that at the top of my list.
- Had a contractor once who did amazing tile but ghosted for days. Super stressful.
- Clear updates = less anxiety, especially when you’re not living at the site.
Maybe I’m just too detail-obsessed, but I’d rather get a heads-up—even if it’s a messy text—than be surprised by a wall full of old newspapers.
- I hear you on the anxiety—nothing worse than radio silence when your house is half torn apart.
- For me, I’d rather have someone who’s a little less “artistic” but actually answers their phone. Had a guy once who did gorgeous plaster work, but he’d disappear for days and then show up with some wild story about why he was late. Drove me nuts.
- At the end of the day, I need to trust they’ll tell me if something’s going sideways, especially with old houses where surprises are pretty much guaranteed.
Curious—do you ever check references specifically about communication, or just about the quality of work? That’s become my go-to after a few too many headaches...
