Imagine hiring a painter who moonlights as a magician. You might wonder if you would get Da Vinci’s version of painting or just smoke. The construction industry can feel a lot like that–enter the hacking contractor. They are not your typical Joes, with their blueprints and toolboxes. They come with a different set of plans entirely. Read more now on hackstage builders

Dealing with contractors is like opening a mystery novel. You may turn the page to find a clue and other times you might end up with a missing chapter. Bob, my neighbor, once hired someone to remodel his bathroom. By the end of the project, it appeared that the man had turned the room into an art studio. Choose your help carefully. Choose someone who can make your dreams a reality, not just paint them on.

Ever heard the saying “every penny counts”? If you are stingy with your money, it can result in a situation whereby your contractor disappears faster than Houdini mid-way through the job. Quality doesn’t have to be akin to discovering the Holy Grail. Making informed decisions, reading between the lines of the contractor, and sometimes seeing through the fog created by jargon are all part of the process.

Speaking of jargon, ever sat through a contractor’s pitch? The words are so confusing that they could fill a dictionary. Why does laying tiles sound the same as landing a spacecraft? Honesty is scarce, like finding a unicorn at a cowboy rodeo. If they stumble over the basics when wearing hard hats, that’s a big red flag.

Communication is still the key. This is a lesson that I learned while repairing my backyard. I assumed the contractor knew what I wanted–dreaming of a landscaped oasis with a fountain–but got what looked more like a desert scene from a spaghetti Western instead. This is a reminder to be clear about your expectations and not make assumptions.