Jobsite cleanliness - what are your expectations?

[Christen G.]

Hi there, I am rehabbing my first (personal) home - a 1940s BEAST! I've done one major renovation in the past on a rental I owned after a flood. I can swing a hammer and am doing some of the work myself and with qualified friends but have hired out for some bigger and more technical things. My question for ya'll is: what are your expectations around job site cleanliness when you're working with contractors or subs? What do you provide, what do you put in writing, etc... 

I'll start:

I provide: contractor's bags and 2 large job site trash cans. I provide brooms, dustpans, a shopvac - and change the bags. At the initial demo, I provide a roll-off dumpster if necessary. I expect: *almost* broom swept, lights off and garbage bagged up at the end of a work-day. Tools in a central location/not strewn about and no confusion on tools: mine vs. theirs (if I'm also working there.) Is that realistic or am I being precious bc it's my home? Couple photos attached for fun - yes that is cat food I found *in* a wall. The other is what the HVAC installers left behind - which was a bummer. More here!

[Kevin Ivey]

Garbage should be in the garbage, tools should be in "place" so they can be found as needed.  I keep my work tools with me and pack out at end of my work, so they don't have to try.  I also know most contractors I work with have their own plan for garbage/ dump runs as they don't expect a home owner to provide a dumpster.  When I have one planned for my work I will let them know so they can possibly adjust a bid, etc.. 

Precise and organized work areas usually produce precise and organized work. 

I also don't think it is something you can "teach" a contractor if it's not their nature.