How to Wrap Up a Job Successfully

Communication is key to a happy client, a good review, and building goodwill

What makes a job a success? A happy client—and ideally, a great review and great portfolio pictures, to help you win more jobs. Sweeten outlines how to aim for that happy client and glowing review.

Sweeten matches general contractors with high-quality home renovation projects, vetted for readiness and appropriate budget. Contractors pay only when they win a project. Budgets start at $15,000 and average over $67,000.

Think about your end game at the beginning

• When negotiating your contract, ask for permission to shoot “after” pictures.
  
• Be 100% clear about the punch list and schedule. Don’t leave room for misaligned expectations.
  
• Define “completion” in the contract. Be explicit. If you promise to leave the space “broom clean,” explain clearly what this means. If the client would like you to hand over the space in more pristine condition, this is the time to negotiate.
  

Anticipate—and reduce—the client’s stress level

• Remember that the client probably hasn’t done this before, and doesn’t know what to expect. Tell them clearly about your process and what they’ll experience.
  
• Notify the client ASAP about any delays, any days when no one will be working at the site, any problems.
  
• Notify the client ASAP about any damage—even if you plan to fix it right away. You don’t want them visiting the site and getting upset because they discovered some spilled paint!
  
• Explain that permits might remain open for several weeks after completion and that this is normal.
  

Ask for a review

• Ideally ask at a late milestone, like when reviewing the punch list
  
• Ask in person, and make it clear that it means a lot to you
  

Follow up 

• Check in with the client a month or so after completion
  
• Thank them for the review (or ask them again if they’d consider leaving one)
  
• Ask how they feel about the work, now that they’ve had a chance to live with it (Chances are high that they’ll be happy, and you’ll just be building good will. If the client has complaints, this is your chance to fix them.)
  

Check-in with Sweeten

• Debrief your account manager on the project
  
• Are you especially proud of this project? Ask if Sweeten will consider it for the blog.
  

In summary

Anticipate what you’ll want at the end of the project, and start working toward it as early as possible. Anticipate your clients’ concerns, and start taking care of them as early as possible. These are the secrets to success! 

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Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, scope, and style. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation with Sweeten.