Rehab
Work In Occupied Houses
If
the contract states the Owner plans to live in the house
while rehabilitation work is being done, this will affect
the way the general contractor handles the project. A pre-contract
conference should be held so both parties will have a clear
understanding about such issues as working hours, cleanup,
furniture moving, access to the property while the Owner
is away, use of utilities, the order in which different
work items will be done, etc.
The following
guidelines should be followed:
General
Contractor's Responsibilities.
The house must remain reasonably functional as living quarters.
Utilities should not remain disconnected any longer than
necessary, and temporary arrangements must be set up if
any utilities are to remain disconnected overnight. This
is especially important in situations affecting safety and
sanitation. It is also important for the general contractor
to inform the Owner ahead of time if any utilities or fixtures
are to be out of service.
The general contractor, his employees, and his subcontractors
should respect the Owner's property and "domestic tranquility."
For example, noise and dust should be isolated from other
parts of the house as much as possible. The work should
be timed to fit in with the family's schedule as far as
possible. The Owner should be notified what kind of work
is coming up, when it will begin and end, and what kind
of disturbances it might make.
Materials, tools, and debris should not be left in the family's
way overnight, and essential trafficways should be kept
open at all times. No fire or safety hazards should be tolerated.
Reasonable precautions should be taken to prevent damage
to the house or the Owner's belongings, such as putting
down drop cloths. If workmen or subcontractors cause any
damage, the general contractor is responsible for correcting
it or paying to have it corrected. A completed job should
not leave the Owner to do any additional finish work or
cleanup, unless different arrangements are stated in the
contract.
Owner's Responsibilities.
The Owner must realize that rehabilitation work, especially
if it involves the inside of the house, is going to create
some unavoidable disturbances and inconveniences. The general
contractor should not be expected to conduct his work so
neatly and quietly that he has a hard time getting anything
done.
There may be times when special conditions call for special
handling, but the Owner should not try to impose restrictions
on the general contractor that were not made known to him
when he was bidding the project.
The Owner must also avoid interfering with the general contractor's
work. Belongings should be cleared from work areas at the
agreed-on times. Discussions about the work should be kept
brief and to the point. Children and pets should be kept
out of the workers' way. Arrangements should be made to
give workers timely access to the premises. The Owner should
not give orders to the general contractor's employees or
subcontractors. If questions or problems come up, normally
the best solution is to contact the general contractor directly.
