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