So you want to hire a Contractor?

Here are a few tips to help you when looking for a qualified contractor.

You've saved your money or secured the loan, prepared for that particular renovation and set your budget. Now it's time to find the perfect contractor! One that is hard working, on time,  fairly priced and a superior craftsman. Finding this person can be an arduous chore but here are a few tips to help you when looking for that one in a dozen contractors that is worth every penny.

Make sure he/she is Licensed and Insured

Each specialized contractor who enters your property should have a valid license.  Make sure you ask to see it and inspect it closely. Licenses and permits are required electrical, plumbing and heating and cooling. The license doesn't insure quality but it is the first step in investigating your contractor.

It is also essential that you demand that your contractor carry valid WSIB (Work place Safety and Insurance Board) AND liability insurance. WSIB is expensive and MANY smaller companies DO NOT have this insurance. If the contractor does not have WSIB and they get injured or, God forbid killed, while working on your property. They are YOUR responsibility. I know in the eavestrough business our insurance is 10% of all wages.

The other type of insurance you want them to carry is liability insurance which covers you in case of any accidents on the job site (i.e. someone smash fixture or their ladder falling on top of your vehicle). If they do not carry this insurance and break something. Oh well, too bad! If they refuse to pay out of their own pocket, you can end up hiring a lawyer and going to civil court and this can take tons of time and money. At the Eavestrough Company, we carry $2 million liability insurance with the Co-operators of Canada.

References

If your contractor is good and authentic, they will have a list of references and homes on which the contractor has worked. You can also find independent reviews on websites like www.homestars.com. This is a 3rd party site and is not under the control of the contractor.  Furthermore, try to go see at least three properties where similar work has been done. This is vital! You don't want the drywaller doing your eavestrough just because he says he knows how to do it!

Who is doing the work?

This is an important question to ask! Is your contractor doing the work or is he sub-contracting the work out to another person? Sub-contracting has serious pit falls as the person doing the work is once or twice removed and you have not verified their workmanship. Also, when a contractor sub contracts the work out, who is coming back if there are any issues that need addressed? I once saw an eavestrough job that was a disaster. The homeowner could not get the company back because their contract was with "BH" company who subcontracted to "RE" company, who subcontracted out to ???(whoever was cheapest). If they are hiring a sub-contractor, you want to get the name of the company and you want to take steps to verify the sub-contractors work.

Contracts and Terms

Before you agree to have the contractor do work on your house, the contractor MUST provide a contract containing all their contact information a detailed and itemised list of the work which will be done on your house, sub contractors who will be working and how they expect payment. On very large jobs, it should be expected that there will be a payment schedule (i.e. 20% down and then certain percentages as the job progresses and then is completed. It should be agreed that you will not pay any costs above the quote unless agreed to in writing.

With that said, most every renovation work has surprises. For instance, I did a complete renovation on my bathroom two years ago. When we took the old plaster off the wall, we discovered that the plumbing was not done correctly and it was not vented. We had to pay extra to have this plumbing work done. Another example. My company, The Eavestrough Company routinely finds rotten fascia board once we get the eavestrough off the house. Both of these examples are work the contractor can not verify or quote on because it is not visible to the eye and unexpected. I normally explain to the homeowner prior to commencing the job that rotten wood is an additional charge and I let them know what the cost per foot of the wood will be.

I know one couple who were taken for over $80,000 when they hired a contractor to renovate a part of their house. The contractor asked for $16,000 upon signing and another $16,000 on the first day of work.  That's 40% before any work commenced! That is insane! The contractor asked for more money as work progressed. The homeowners noticed that the kitchen cabinets were a different colour than they had chosen, the granite counter top different, the ceramic floor was not installed properly and a few had cracked. The contractor promised to fix and rectify everything. They paid him ever dime even though the work was not done right. They never heard from him again. Repeated calls to his company went unanswered. Then the contractors phone was disconnected and the homeowners discovered their contractor had declared bankruptcy.

With a large job, a good landmark to use depending on the size of your job, is an average "good faith" down payment of between 2-5%, which is basically booking a contractor's time. When they arrive at the job site ready to work, another 10% can be expected.. NEVER agree to a payment schedule based on time. Agree to a payment schedule when certain work is completed and only pay them if the work is done correctly!  On large jobs ($15,000 or more) I also recommend a 10% hold back for up to 30 days after completion. If any problems arise in this time, this will ensure they get fixed. This also gives you time to make sure you are completely happy with the work. NEVER give the balance owed before the contractor has finished ALL of the work.  Always pay by cheque or certified cheque. It is important to keep a paper trail in case you ever have to go to court. It is always important to get a receipt for every payment you pay the contractor, signed and dated by the contractor.

And...most importantly, BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU SIGN. A good contract should be easy legible, easy to read and easy to understand. And remember.....always trust your instincts. If it doesn't feel right, it probably isn't.

For quality eavestrough work, contact The Eavestrough Company at www.theeavestroughcompany.com or phone us at 905-902-9424. We are EAVESTROUGH SPECIALISTS!