• Before you hire labour, especially if it is not an interior designer's workers, check their previous work. You don't want them experimenting with your home.

Also Read: Why You Don't Need an Interior Designer

• Once you give them the contract, pre-decide how you are going to pay them. It is better to pay them a certain amount for the entire contract rather than paying each worker individually per day. This is because they might drag on the work for more days to earn more.
  
  
• Before the work begins it is advisable to cover all your furniture, appliances etc. and put whatever you can away. It will help keep everything intact. Very often workers have no value for your belongings and might land up ruining them.

Also Read: Get Ready for a Paint Job

• Don't leave any temptation around. So lock up all your valuables and possessions. If possible, lock up the rooms, which they don't need to enter.
  
  
• Do not allow the workers to use your bathrooms and toilets. It is not safe for you or your family to use the same toilets as the workers. Make it clear at the very beginning that they will have to use a public loo close by.
  
  
• Supervise the work if you can but don't keep interfering with the workers. For instance, if the workers are mixing sand and cement for a waterproofing job, make sure you watch the mixing process lest they use substandard material.

• Don't hesitate to ask what the workers are doing and why if you don't understand. After all you are paying them to do the job. You might as well get it done to your liking.
  
  
• If you have bought the fittings, tiles etc. yourself, make an inventory of it. This way you know exactly what is there. Make sure that at the end of the day when the workers are leaving you check whether everything is still there. Also keep a watch on the workers each time they leave the house for anything.

Also Read: Buying Bathroom Fittings

• When it comes to materials, be very careful. The workers might waste them because they are not paying for them. For instance, the carpenter might leave the jar of Fevicol open band let it dry up or the mason may waste the cement and then they will keep asking you to buy more.
  
  
• Be firm with the workers but not harsh. Just as you need breaks from work you need to give them breaks too. Allow them a half an hour to 45 minutes lunch break and two tea breaks during the day. If possible, you could have your maid prepare tea for them.