Hiring a Contractor

How to Get What You Want - and What You Pay For

Without the proper planning, renovating your home can be a stressful, time-consuming and expensive experience. But sooner or later, almost all homeowners need to hire a contractor to carry out a renovation or repair. So how can you find and select the right contractor, to ensure your dream renovation goes as smoothly as possible?

To help you choose,we have a number of tips to help make sure you get what you want - and what you pay for - including:

• Ask for referrals from family, friends and neighbours who've had similar work done. You can also get names from local home builders and renovators associations, building supply stores, municipal building departments and the Internet.
• Discuss your project with a few potential contractors to get their suggestions on how they would do the work. Depending on your project's scope and complexity, you may get a rough estimate of costs, but the first meeting is usually more to get to know the contractor and their work. So unless you have been able to check out the contractor ahead of time, you shouldn't sign or pay anything at this stage.
• Ask as many questions as you can, like: How long they have been in business? What work are they or their subcontractors licensed to do, or specialize in? Have they done similar jobs before? Will they use their own crews or subcontractors? What schedule will they follow? Do they offer a warranty, and what does it cover? Do they carry workers' compensation and liability insurance? Will they provide a written contract?
• Get at least three references from each contractor, then phone or - if they'll let you - visit them to see the finished job, and ask if they were satisfied with the renovator, the tradespeople and the quality of their work.
• Many homeowners prefer to get a number of estimates before making a decision, while others strongly prefer one contractor, and ask only the one to submit a formal estimate. Whatever your preference, make sure you get adequate information to make the right choice. As a general rule, with the proper drawings and specifications, three estimates will usually provide enough information for you to make a decision.
• Finally, no matter how large or small your renovation is, make sure to get a detailed written contract. While the offer of a "good deal" for work paid in cash may be tempting, without a written contract, you could lose your deposit, end up with poor quality work or find yourself charged far more than you expected. Once you have the contract, don't sign it until you have read it carefully, are sure you understand what it says, and are satisfied that it describes includes everything you have been promised.

Source:CMHC