She commits them to a time frame and she asks specific questions, expecting straight answers. More important, she stresses, while she's busy interviewing them, you can be sure they are also interviewing her. In an economic boom time, like now, when work seems to be more abundant then workers available to do it, home maintenance and repair people can afford to be selective about which jobs to take. Establishing a good working rapport is key to getting these people to keep coming back day after day. This is especially true of those working inside your home and sharing your personal space.
Communicating is also key.
A dialogue about what is to be done shouldn't be vague, leaving a dissatisfied customer and a frustrated professional. For example, I told a painter once that I wanted barely-blue laundry room walls, thinking I was going to get something akin to a pale winter sky. His version of barely blue was a startling almost violet color that packs a powerful punch every time I walk into that room. My request for barely blue was met, but we both interpreted the color differently. Strategy and Planning Playing the home improvement game takes some strategy.