Contractor Tells Subcontractors the Two Jobs They Are Already Paid for That Never Appear on the Work Order Including Those Home Depot Runs

Anyone who has had a kitchen remodeled or a bathroom redone knows the feeling of walking through a job site at the end of the day and wondering who is supposed to sweep up the sawdust. One general contractor has a firm answer, and he lays it out for his subcontractors in no uncertain terms. In a recent video, @contractorcuts explains that there are two things every sub on his jobs is paid for, even though neither one is written on the work order.

“There’s two things on every work order that you’re getting paid for that’s not written on there,” he says. He adds that it is spelled out in the subcontractor agreement, which every sub signs before starting work.

Job One: Ten Minutes of Cleanup Every Day

The first is straightforward. At the end of each workday, the sub is expected to stop about ten minutes early and clean up the job site. “That is part of our agreement. That’s part of what you’re getting paid for,” he says.

He anticipates the pushback. A sub might look at the work order and point out that cleanup is not listed. His answer is that it does not need to be. “I need you to take 10 minutes at the end of each day to clean up, organize materials, leave it looking decent,” he says.

Anyone who has lived through a remodel understands why this matters. A tidy job site is safer for crews and families, protects floors and finished surfaces, and helps the next trade start work without tripping over the last one’s mess. For homeowners still living in the house, it can be the difference between a tolerable project and a miserable one.

@contractorcuts

Job Two: Your Own Home Depot Runs

The second unwritten duty is about materials. He explains that he handles the initial purchase of all the large material orders. But the smaller trips are on the sub. “You’re in charge of running to Home Depot to get one more box of screws,” he says.

He makes it clear he does not want to be the go-between for every small item. “I’m not your material runner,” he says. In fact, he notes that his estimates already assume subs will stop at the store every other morning on the way to the job to pick up what they need. He adds that he will set up a phone sale and make the purchase himself, but the sub handles the trip.

Both duties, he says, are built into every work order he writes. And he offers a practical tip for anyone running into the same problem over and over: just put it on the work order. If it keeps coming up, write it into every one, so there is no question that these two jobs are part of what the sub is being paid for.

What Homeowners Can Learn From This

His advice is aimed at subcontractors, but it carries useful lessons for anyone hiring a contractor for a remodel, a roof or a new deck.

Ask who cleans up, and how often. Before signing, ask whether the crew will clean the site daily, weekly or only at the end. Ask who hauls away debris, and whether a dumpster is included in the price. Get the answer written into the contract.

Ask how materials are handled. Find out whether materials are included in the bid, whether you will pay for them separately, and who picks them up. Some contractors charge a markup on materials. That is normal, but you should know it upfront.

Get a detailed written estimate. A good estimate lists labor, materials, permits, cleanup and disposal. Vague bids lead to arguments later about what was or was not included.

Ask who the subcontractors are. Most general contractors use subs for plumbing, electrical, drywall and other trades. Ask whether they are licensed and insured, and whether the general contractor is responsible for their work.

Protect yourself from liens. In many states, a subcontractor or supplier who does not get paid by the general contractor can place a lien on your home, even if you paid the contractor in full. Ask for lien waivers when you make payments, especially the final one.

Do not pay too much upfront. A reasonable deposit is common, but large upfront payments are a warning sign. Some states limit how much a contractor can collect before work begins. Tie later payments to completed milestones.

Keep the lines of communication clear. Decide on one main point of contact. Changes requested directly from a sub, without the general contractor’s knowledge, often lead to confusion and surprise bills.

Why Clear Expectations Save Everyone Money

The heart of this contractor’s message is simple: misunderstandings cost money. When a sub expects someone else to clean or to run for screws, a crew sits idle, a messy site slows down the next trade, or the general contractor ends up doing errands he never priced in. Those costs eventually show up somewhere, often in the next estimate a homeowner receives.

By spelling out these two unwritten duties, he is trying to keep his jobs moving and his budgets intact. Homeowners can borrow the same approach. Before work starts, ask the questions, get the answers in writing, and make sure everyone knows who is responsible for what, right down to the broom and the box of screws.

Willow and Hearth