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Renovating can be a daunting process, so we asked Jean Brownhill, founder and CEO of Sweeten, a platform that helps people find expert advice and get matched with vetted general contractors, for her best remodeling tips and tricks.
Congratulations on hiring an expert to complete that home renovation project that has been dancing around the edges of your brain for months. Now that your contractor is paid and you’re (presumably) pleased with the handiwork, what’s next? Do you smile, dismiss the crew with a hearty handshake for services rendered, and cross this task off your to-do list? Or do you tip the contractor?
Typically, it is not necessary (or expected!) to tip your general contractor or their crew. A good one knows what his time is worth and charges accordingly from the get-go.
Alternatives to Tipping Contractors
Just like anyone else, tradespeople love to hear that they’ve done a great job, so be generous with praise, referrals, and positive reviews where you found them, whether that’s on a site like Sweeten, Yelp, or through a Google search. Giving them a glowing comment on social media goes a long way, too. A homeowner can also show their thanks during the renovation. Sharing access to a bathroom with soap and hand towels; bottles of water on hot days (and coffee on cold ones); easy access to the site area; and a place for storing wet umbrellas and winter coats are all small gestures that make for a happy crew.
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