by Deborah Mesher, Architectural Designer and Gail Prosser of Women Who Build Stuff
Deborah: What makes a good contractor?
Gail: The best contractors have excellent customer service. This means great communication, being well organized, creating strong relationships with their sub trades as well as having a network of architects, designers and engineers. I think they should be financially transparent, and fair with their client.
Deborah: What qualifications or skills does a contractor need?
Gail: I consider remaining calm and superior problem solving skills to be at the top of the list.
Deborah: What do you wish homeowners knew about home renovation?
Gail: That it requires the management of dozens of real life people to renovate a home. All these people have lives outside of work. Whether it be a missed day of work, or having to leave early, or just not having the best work day - we are not robots that churn out perfection day in and day out. We are still human beings making beautiful homes out of not-so-perfect materials.
Deborah: What are you most excited about that's emerging in your field?
Gail: I am the most excited when people learn to work with the home they have. A small addition, a garage into an office, a closed off under the stairs area into a wee powder room...I love keeping originality within the home’s architecture - rather than building giant boxes with square rooms. I think homes are being designed this way again.
Learn more about Gail Prosser here.