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Successful Renovation

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




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