There is a high level of anxiety involved when you’re choosing a contractor for a renovation or building project. Whether you are hiring a general contractor for a complete or partial home renovation or a custom home builder to build your dream home, choosing the wrong contractor for your project can lead to inadequate craftsmanship, incomplete work, and even financial loss. You see the news stories all the time about fraudulent contractors doing shoddy work, not completing the job, and even taking money up front and not even starting the work.

For example, a recent poll conducted at the 2017 Edmonton Renovation Show by RenovationFind, which is a 3rd party contractor directory, found that 57% of survey participants knew somebody that had been a victim of fraud by a home improvement contractor and 34% feel they had been personally victimized. The poll also found that the top 2 most important factors to homeowners when contracting a job is trustworthiness and quality of work. The good news is there are several things you can do beforehand and many resources available to help you avoid the stress, mess, and cost of entering into an agreement with the wrong contractor.

The Process

Before beginning a construction project you need to familiarize yourself with the process. Having a firm grasp of typical payment methods, contract details, extras that can arise, and knowing common scams can help you avoid bad situations. Local Toronto custom home builder and general contractor Alair Homes Toronto provides a 5-point list of things you need to do before entering into a contract.

1. Understand typical up-front payments.
2. Get a detailed summary of the work to be performed and a contract.
3. Prepare for extras.
4. Beware of the “No Permits Needed” scam
5. Beware of the “We’re Working Just Down the Street” Pitch.

Bidding

Once you have a basic understanding of the process it is time to get bids for the project. It is a good rule of thumb to obtain at least 3 independent bids so you can compare cost estimates and scope of work details. There are several websites, like RenovationFind, that prescreen contractors which will save you a lot of legwork deciding the companies to get bids from. Be sure that the online contractor directory you use is reputable and that they conduct a comprehensive background check of the contractors they recommend. The background check should include legal and credit screening, quality of work analysis, licensing validity, and compliance with insurance and labor regulation.

Choosing Your Contractor

With the 3 estimates in hand, it’s time for a comparison and a decision. The details are everything at this stage of the process. You need to consider not only cost but also quality and things like the logistics of the job proposal, and even your overall comfort level with the crew. If it’s going to be a major remodel the crew could be in your house for weeks so being comfortable is very important. Don’t be afraid to ask if they have completed projects you could go take a look at and references you can talk to.

Finding a trustworthy contractor that does quality work isn’t rocket science. It requires obtaining a little knowledge and doing the legwork. Doing your homework and using the resources that are available can increase the odds your project will be completed to your satisfaction and without drama. Therefore, contact Alair Homes Toronto if you have any questions about the custom home or renovation process.