ᐅ If you ask the homeowners, you will get an answer.

Hello everyone,

Including the early planning phase, we have been building our house for two years now and are approaching the interior finishing stage.
Throughout all trades involved, we have had an experience that I want to share with you and ask if you have encountered the same:

Basically, our contractors, with few exceptions, do not ask any questions. They just carry out the work. Later, if a part of the trade or a work step turns out to be done incorrectly (which has happened to us several times), the response is "we didn’t know." We always think and say, "Why don’t you ask us?"

Every contractor has my mobile number, and I tell each one that I am reachable 24/7 during the construction and that they can just call me if they have any questions or uncertainties.

Whenever I happen to be at the construction site, the contractors suddenly have questions which are then asked directly to me. But if I were not there on site, they would never have asked.

Without asking, they always choose the path of least resistance, meaning the easiest option. It’s not about money. I am willing to pay more for a better method, but I am not even being asked.

Is this your experience as well, or have we just been unlucky with our partner companies?

No, I’m not familiar with that.
Even though we have a general contractor, I visit the construction site every day and just ask.
Good morning, is everything okay with you?
If I notice anything in the evening, I address it directly the next day, except for deviations from the finalized specifications, which are handled through the site manager.

I’m not familiar with that either. As soon as questions came up, my phone would ring.

I clearly remember the roofing plumber calling in the middle of a meeting to find out where the downpipes should be installed 🙂

For all trades that could carry out work in more than one way, our "approval" was always requested.

Silent010 schrieb:
Is it like this for you as well, or are we just having a bit of bad luck with the partner companies?

I’m actually not surprised. Besides, I understand that a construction plan should be detailed enough that the contractor can build without needing to ask questions. The goal should always be to reach a stage where no clarifications are necessary.

Furthermore: Isn’t it often the case that the client doesn’t know the actual tradesperson carrying out the work? The client communicates with a manager, site supervisor, or foreman. The work is performed by a tradesperson who receives instructions from the manager, supervisor, or foreman — and naturally, any questions will be directed there, not to the client.

I noticed more the lack of independent thinking (or sometimes just the opposite). But this was only with one or two companies. For example, they drilled about 10cm (4 inches) above an orange pipe, right into a messy bunch of cables coming out of the wall. With just a little bit of common sense, they would have realized that such a pipe can only run from above or below, so it’s probably best not to drill directly above it if you don't know the exact direction...

Otherwise, there were definitely some inquiries, even by phone. It could also be that I had already asked so many questions and had so many conversations beforehand that not much was left unclear.

Edit: We don’t have a very detailed construction plan, but at least a comprehensive plan for the shell builder. We used selective subcontracting, did some work ourselves, and also had the friend’s father, who is quite skilled, visiting the site regularly, so we also got to know the workers personally.

Huh... 2 years of house construction...

On the topic: I know it like this. One trade always clarified everything beforehand, the other just did it and then fixed it afterwards.