As a licensed Florida building contractor and plumber in Florida, my customers get what, where, why, and when. I always keep how and who; nonnegotiable. If you get on professional remodeler's websites, you'll repeatedly read of the older guys advising the younger guys to always be money ahead on a job. That's good advice on larger jobs and bigger companies with cash flow issues, but I do small jobs with no money down occasionally.

Reading over your list, nothing seems too unusual to me. Make sure he acknowledges your email that the lighting placement is wrong; that's irrefutable if push comes to shove.

How do I make sure the work is done well? I can obviously see if things are crooked, but how would I know if, for instance, a drop in tub was waterproofed and set in mortar correctly? Do I just trust them? I feel like if I was GC I would hire specialists in each area who have done similar projects hundreds of times and know how to solve problems without instructions that come from the box (or provide suggestions to do things better based on experience.) I’m not saying they are doing a thing wrong right now, I am just surprised it seems there is no official plumber / electrician/ etc on the project. Maybe $25k was too little to spend on the remodel (work only no finishing supplies) but I got a lot of quotes and that is where most of the companies that seemed legit came in.

Thanks for your response. I am mostly trying to understand what is normal and what I should expect as this is my first remodel. I don’t mind paying in advance as I care for small businesses and their subcontracts and want everyone to get paid.

You make sure the work is done well when you vet the GC before hiring him.

"What should I expect from a GC?" Two things: you should expect that 1.) the project will be completed substantially as per the approved plans and specifications, and 2.) that it's completed according to terms and conditions in the contract.

The GC provides a “designer.” I don’t have a separate designer. Yes I now understand the value of having an actual design build firm but even then how do I know they are good? My GC said the bathroom remodel was simple and we don’t need plans. I now see why we do. Too late for that! I’m just trying to make sure things are done safely and to code. We do have permits (inspection for rough is tomm) so I’m hoping this catches any major errors.

I’m not blaming my contractor for normal things, I think. He provided the designer then the designer makes an sketch for me and GC says he is just a designer he doesn’t know construction. Ok what is the point of the designer making the sketch with measurements then? Even the GC previously noted the designer should draw out the plan so we would agree to it. But how he is saying the sketches aren’t actually what will be implemented?

I am most concerned about the plumbing as I’d be willing to pay a bit more for the best materials so we do not have any issues in the future. I want to be able to discuss this with my contractor but he blows me off and makes me feel like i am asking dumb questions. He had not requested $ for a change order yet which is good, i am worried we will hit problems and that will come up. What if inspection isn’t passed tomorrow? I’ve already paid $15k of $25k job. I want to trust this company but it makes me very nervous.

I found it very helpful to be present for all building inspections, The building inspector became my greatest advocate.

The electrical work is being inspected? If yes, I'm sure they will do everything to meet the code compliance.

As the power being out, most likely they know you go there all the time so they keep the power off because work is not completed and some outlets or wiring is not tied-in, so it's for your safety.

As the vanity rough-in goes, it depends on the vanity and depends on what they doing, just not enough info to go by.

That said if the plumbing pipes being re-routed and vent pipes being moved plumbing work should also be inspected.

"But how he is saying the sketches aren’t actually what will be implemented?"

As the light layout goes, if something is not according to plan layout, they should communicate with you and explain everything and what they plan to do and see if you OK with it.

Keep in mind, it is easy to put anything on paper and put the lights anyplace you like, but when you dealing with the existing home... when you start construction and start opening up the walls you can run into all kinds of obstructions, and some things can be moved, some cannot so if they ran into that issue they should bring it to your attention and have your OK on certain changes.

Good luck