Having work crews in your house is miserable. As a homeowner, it's a bit of a misnomer to "manage" a work crew. You are the client, not their boss. And even though you're the one who is paying for everything, there is a distinction.

If you're hiring tradesmen to do various jobs--self-contracting, we might say--then you need to put more work into this.  Someone has to be the binding agent, and guess what?

  It happens to be you.

If you're hiring a contractor, then the contractor is that hub at the center of the wheel.  The contractor does the managing.  Your "job" is limited to only a few of the bullet points below, such as staying out of their way and removing breakables and steal-ables.

Difficulty: Average

Time Required: 1 Hour

Here's How:

1. Stay Out of their Way

   Let them do their job. My rule of thumb: Don't hover, but be within earshot in case they have questions. They know what they're doing. Otherwise, you wouldn't have hired them. Right?

2. Secure Valuables

   Though rare, things do get stolen. Not all workers are full-time employees. Some are day laborers who are not accountable to the contractor who hired them.

3. Remove Breakables from Work Area

   Do them a favor and just remove that 2nd century Greek vase from their work area. Believe me, they're really not interested in breaking it.

4. Don't Start by "Laying Down the Rules"

   Most work crews know the unwritten rules; it's all about respecting another person's space. Lay down the rules diplomatically only when you feel a line has been crossed. Sounds backwards, but you will be pleasantly surprised at how polite most work crews are.

1. Create Goodwill

   A smile, a hello, a "how was your weekend" is the required thing.  They're people, not work-bots.  But don't get too chatty; they do have a work to do, after all.`

2. Communicate Through the Lead Person

   In any work crew, there is a leader, even if just a defacto leader. When you have concerns, talk to that leader.

3. Remove Impediments to Their Work

   This means scheduling crews so that they aren't tripping over each other; having the sub-floor put in before the carpet installers come; moving junk from the area in basement where the plumbers will work.

4. And Yes, Let Them Use the Bathroom

   For goodness sake, let them use the bathroom. You want the best possible work project, right? Make their jobs easier and let them use the toilet. You can clean it later. Put out a roll of paper towels so that they don't have to use your fine Turkish towels to wipe their hands.  The exception

5. Don't Shower Them With Favors

   The first time I ran a work crew in my home, I thought that the only right thing to do was to provide them with a continuous source of sodas, juices, and bottled waters--all day long.  Only later did I realize that this was a mistake.  With the cost and running to the store, it was a burden on me.  For them, they were appreciative and felt like they had to thank me all the time.  Until they got used to it.  At this point, I was the magic provider.  Maybe a well-timed cooler of sodas on one or two Friday afternoons, but only judiciously and with no strings attached. Set the cooler out where they are. This is not teatime with the homeowner.