Mobile Web Improves Homeowner-Contractor Communications

Today's mobile communications make it easier for homeowners to leave a voice mail message, send an email or text message directly to their contractor's cell phone.

Ask your contractor for their direct office and cell phone numbers. Ask them for their email address or an email address that connects directly to their mobile phone.

Provide your contractor with your cell phone and email address. Specify to your contractor which is the best and the first to use when contacting you.

• If you're at work; should the contractor contact you via email rather than using your cell phone?
• How often do you retrieve messages or email from the cell or email accounts that you provide them?

Contractors have contacted me numerous times when they needed an immediate project decision from me. Each time we avoided costly time delays from playing "phone tag".

Double up and document your contractor communications. After calling or leaving a voice mail with your contractor, send a short email to your contractor itemizing the points of your call or voice mail. If you first sent an email; call and leave a short voice mail asking the contractor to check their email when they return to the office.

Print all emails that you send or receive from your contractor. Place them in your project folder for future reference.

Place a couple test phone calls and emails to the contractor to verify "all systems are working". Ask them to do the same by leaving a couple voice mails and emails prior to construction.

You're both busy. Checking and documenting your contractor communications will improve the consistency of the construction-design decisions that both of you will make during homebuilding project.