Life – a user's manual Part II - Boksidan

Contractors
When an action is decided, remains the often most difficult part of the work, namely, to ensure that it gets
done. For smaller jobs, there are usually no other option than to hire craftsmen on a current account. Since it
is not reasonable to request quotes for small jobs, moreover, it is not certain that it will be cheaper because
they have to take in account possible problems that probably wont occure.
However, for larger projects, it is often worthwhile, if possible, to bring in quotes from several contractors,
especially if you do not already have very good contact with a suitable one. For example, the quotes for my
last purchases from seemingly similar firms were distributed as follows:
- Work 1: 570 000 SEK 1 090 000 SEK and 976 000 SEK.
- Work 2: 34 016 SEK and 87 200 SEK.
Whether you intend to use a trusted contractor to perform work on current account or with fixed fee one
should make document that at least is a list of what to do. Since regardless of how careful and conscientious
the contractor is, it is easy to forget.
In more complex cases, it may be wise to hire a structural engineer who designs the plans and also hopefully
reconcile during the work, that it is properly done. Since even a sloppy firm for a layman in the field may
seem to do very serious work. As a layman it might also be difficult to assess the severity of the possible
carelessness. In addition, in many cases, it is mandatory to appoint a quality manager. Which the
construction company hopefully can provide.
Notwithstanding other circumstances, it is usually easier for yourself and cheaper, the more small tasks you
can collect to a single contractor. Since the contractor's travel and start-up time is shared between more
tasks. Moreover, the latter, in particular in the case of painting, can use delays in a more efficient manner.
Finally, it is important to have a well-known rule regarding projects in mind at all planning of future
projects:
Small projects often take more time than what was planned, and big ditto pull often cost more than
planned.
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