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screws and splinters can present hazards to little hands and feet and there could be any number of chemicals (adhesive, filler, etc.) that might pose a toxic threat if swallowed.

If you have any questions about the progress of your project, don't be afraid to ask. You should know whom to ask, however. Just because someone is working on your counter tops does not mean they know which faucet will be installed or when. Most larger projects are done with a combination of employees and subcontractors. You need to understand that you are not the sub's client, they are working for the prime or general contractor. It's a good idea to get the name and number of the person who will be your point of contact for the project. This would be the person, either the general or an employee, who knows all the details of your project and can answer your questions. This person should be able to respond to your messages in a timely manner. If everything has been specified up front, unless you see something that does not match the spec sheet, rely on periodic updates from your POC (point of contact). Things don't always look right until they are completed, so be somewhat patient with the process.

Part Four: Payments and Sign-offs

Payments: Your contract should include a schedule of payments, how much and when they are to be made. I prefer to tie payments to the completion of certain parts of the job rather than dates. This allows flexibility on scheduling and reassures the client that they are paying for a specific part of the job. Many companies do have payments made on certain dates, but there should be an appropriate amount of work completed to justify the payment. Remember, your prime contractor is the one paying all of the subs which he can't do if you don't pay him on time. Make sure you review this part of your contract thoroughly and ask questions if you don't understand the payment schedule. Plan ahead; cut all of the checks you will need ahead of time and keep them handy. "My husband has the checkbook" is not a good answer to your contractor's request for a payment.

At the end of your project, there should be a final walk through with your contractor to be sure all of the details have been taken care of to your satisfaction (within the scope of the contract). Your contractor will most likely prepare a punch list' which includes those final items that need to be finished or corrected. We have the client sign off on the final list so that items don't start showing up after we

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