| 1. Planning RenovationsAny project will be | | | | deal of the century turn into the mistake of |
| more successful, given well-defined goals. | | | | a lifetime! One reason for cash payment is |
| In every household project, the following | | | | the avoidance of paperwork and taxes. Taxes |
| three points can be applied:FORM: What do | | | | and other legalities aside, the absence of |
| you want it to look like? | | | | contracts and permits can be extremely |
| | | | risky.Ooh, I love to save money!Cash |
| FUNCTION: What do you want it to do for | | | | contractors often don't pay Workers' |
| you? | | | | Compensation fees, and you could be held |
| | | | legally responsible for any worker injured on |
| COMPATIBILITY: What factors exist that | | | | your property. If the contractor gives you |
| might limit what you can do, and will the | | | | the product warranty cards, you'll be covered |
| finished product look good on your house?Once | | | | for defective materials provided they were |
| you've completed this part of your homework, | | | | properly installed, but don't expect good |
| it's time to decide if you'll built it | | | | follow-up service on a cash deal. You would |
| yourself, hire a contractor, or be your own | | | | also have difficulty supporting any legal |
| contractor and perhaps sub-contract some of | | | | actions without any paperwork. The overall |
| the work. Sub-contracting may sometimes seem | | | | quality of a project may be compromised in |
| to over-complicate things and even look | | | | the absence of paperwork, and cash paid in |
| wasteful, but just remember - some jobs can | | | | advance (rather than by cheque) will be all |
| look deceivingly simple until you actual get | | | | but impossible to retrieve if things go |
| into the nitty-gritty of them. A general | | | | sour.Building, plumbing and electrical codes |
| contractor's job is to co-ordinate and | | | | may require that all or parts of your project |
| orchestrate the whole schmozzle to | | | | be performed by licensed tradespeople, and |
| completion.2. Finding A ContractorMy | | | | sometimes licenses are required to obtain the |
| card...The process of finding a good | | | | permits. If the tradespeople aren't |
| contractor is essentially the same, whether | | | | licensed, the contractor probably isn't |
| you decide to hire a general contractor, or | | | | insured. And if your contractor isn't |
| one or more sub-contractors. The best | | | | insured, then depending on the nature of the |
| reference for a contractor is word of mouth | | | | job, neither is your house while he works on |
| from a satisfied client. If you don't know | | | | it.The ContractAgreements in writing are less |
| anyone who has had renovations or repairs | | | | vulnerable to miscommunications, than are |
| done in the area you need, look for work | | | | verbal ones, and far easier to enforce. Some |
| trucks or signs in your neighborhood. Knock | | | | of the points included in a good contract |
| on doors, and ask the homeowners if they are | | | | are:1. Full job description, including all |
| satisfied with the work being done. Once you | | | | aspects of the work; demolition, renovation, |
| contact a contractor, ask for references, and | | | | reconstruction and finishing.2. Material |
| follow through by calling their previous | | | | specifications, including type, model, |
| clients with a set of questions that will | | | | number, color, and size where applicable, and |
| give you the information you are looking | | | | who's supplying what.3. Start and finish |
| for.The following are samples of questions | | | | dates.4. Payment schedule; 40/40/20 is |
| that could be asked of any reference:1. Did | | | | generally acceptable.5. Permits, and who's |
| the job come in at the quoted price? | | | | responsible for obtaining them.6. Clean-up |
| | | | and trash removal.7. On site behaviour.8. |
| 2. Did the job come in on time? | | | | Change order clause: Have any changes to the |
| | | | original job specifications in writing with a |
| 3. Was the work site left clean each day? | | | | requirement that you "sign off" any change |
| | | | before the work is performed.9. Arbitration: |
| 4. Was the quality of the workmanship | | | | Aree how disagreements will be handled |
| satisfactory? | | | | before the work begins.10. Contractor's |
| | | | insurer and policy number.5. The Work |
| 5. Was the quality of the materials used | | | | MORE POWER!Problem Avoidance: If you've |
| satisfactory?It is always recommended that | | | | carefully chosen your contractor, and made |
| you talk to more than one company, so that | | | | adequate preparations (including making the |
| you have a basis for comparison. Listen to | | | | site ready for the trades people and |
| their technical information, and note their | | | | workers), this part should be easy! The |
| customer relation skills. If the contractor | | | | actual work should closely follow what was |
| doesn't do a very good job of communicating | | | | written into the contract, however you still |
| with you before you hire him or her, there | | | | need to monitor the ongoing project, and in |
| may be a higher likelihood of | | | | some cases you'll be required to make |
| miscommunications during the work.Sometimes | | | | additional decisions. There are often |
| the best companies will be very busy and you | | | | unforseen difficulties, or you may simply |
| will have to wait for their services. Other | | | | wish to ask for changes as the work |
| times, good companies may have time slots | | | | proceeds.Site Preparation: Remove furniture |
| between large projects that smaller jobs can | | | | and stored articles from the work area, and |
| fit into. Ask what the company's schedule | | | | cover carpets and other items that may not be |
| has been like for the past 6 months to a | | | | moveable. It is in your own best interest to |
| year. Reputable companies are usually busy | | | | make arrangements for storage, clean-up and |
| all year round in any economic situation.3. | | | | refuse areas convenient to the work |
| The Estimate, or QuoteMeeting the | | | | area.Project Coordination: Effective |
| ContractorsRemember that the contractor you | | | | communication is the greatest secret to |
| choose could be spending a lot of time in | | | | successfully completing any project. |
| your home, so look for someone you feel at | | | | Maintain regular contact with your |
| ease with. You should meet individually with | | | | contractor(s) so that the unexpected can be |
| each potential contractor. Be prepared to | | | | dealt with expediently.Hidden Conditions: A |
| discuss products and designs; know what you | | | | thorough inspection performed in conjuction |
| want and how much you can spend. Take note | | | | with estimation should preclude any major |
| if the contractors are on time, if they | | | | changes, however there are structural and |
| listen and answer questions, willingly give | | | | mechanical conditions initially hidden from |
| information about their company and their | | | | view, which even the most experienced |
| customers; and if they seem to have any | | | | renovator may not be able to predict. Be |
| aversion to your ideas.The EstimateThis is | | | | prepared to negotiate changes for "hidden |
| where you'll likely make your choice of | | | | conditions".What to do if a problem |
| contractor. Each potential contractor will | | | | develops:1. Bring all problems, perceived |
| present a proposal, including design and cost | | | | and real, to the attention of your |
| information. Review the estimates, ensuring | | | | contractor(s).2. Is it major or minor? If |
| that they accurately relfect your wishes, and | | | | minor, and the contractor is present at the |
| make comments and/or any changes that are | | | | time, discuss it and negotiate a resolution. |
| required.How Are Jobs Estimated?Work that | | | | If it's minor, and/or looks like it can wait, |
| involves structural changes to the home, | | | | start a list of minor observations that you |
| custom designs, or enlargement of some of the | | | | can bring to his or her attention when |
| mechanical systems is typically quoted by the | | | | appropriate.3. Major problems should be dealt |
| job. It can be very difficult for a | | | | with immediately. If your contractor is not |
| contractor to know exactly how much time an | | | | present at the time, make every effort to |
| intricate custom job will take, particulary | | | | contact him or her as soon as possible. |
| if a number of trades are required, and the | | | | This may avert furtherance of the problem.4. |
| different parts of the job are | | | | Given that your contractor responds |
| interdependent.Get it in writing!Simpler, | | | | satisfactorily, carry on. If not, try again |
| straightforward jobs are often quoted by the | | | | and if necessary, write a letter. If you |
| square foot. Examples are laying sod, | | | | still don't get satisfaction, look to a third |
| painting, roofing, drywall or refinishing | | | | party such as the Ontario Renovators Council |
| floors. The quoted price will typically be | | | | or the Ontario Home Builders Association. |
| set to include everything (ie. labour, | | | | These agencies should be approached only if |
| materials, travel, etc.).Smaller jobs may | | | | you are certain that a resolution cannot be |
| also be quoted buy the hour, and if the job | | | | achieved with the contractor. Legal counsel |
| is fairly routine, such as installing | | | | should be an absolute last resort. There's |
| addtional electrical outlets or drywalling, | | | | no use making a mountain out of a molehill, |
| the figures are typically in line. In this | | | | and thereby delaying succesful completion of |
| situation you will pay the tradesperson for | | | | the project.THE BOTTOM LINE: |
| time, plus the cost of the materials used in | | | | |
| the project.The Final Design and QuoteIf you | | | | careful contractor selection + a good |
| have a contractor with good references and | | | | contract = successful jobCopyright Gil |
| the estimate looks good, you now need to get | | | | Strachan - All rights reserved.Gil Strachan |
| a firm quote, including final designs. The | | | | is a professional home inspector, |
| design should include detailed specifications | | | | representing Electrospec Home Inspection |
| for the work and the materials to be | | | | Services in east-central Ontario, Canada |
| used.(Another option is to have an architect | | | | since 1994. Visit to learn more about home |
| or designer produce the plans and ask the | | | | inspections."The Home Reference Book" |
| contractors to bid on the job, based on these | | | | |
| plans.)Make sure the final specs are accurate | | | | You can probably find a home inspection for |
| and reflect your wishes, and make your final | | | | a little less than what we ask, but you |
| comments and changes. After you accept the | | | | probably won't find the Home Reference Book. |
| final quote, the cost of further changes will | | | | A $60 value, this solutions-oriented |
| likely be added to the job. Ask how long the | | | | reference tool comes free with every |
| stages of the work will take, so that you can | | | | inspection we perform.It's the first tool you |
| monitor progress.4. The PaperworkCash is | | | | should have around the house! |
| King, however...... take care, lest the cash | | | | |