Renovation Tip 3 : Finding and Choosing a Contractor

A good source of referrals may be a family member, friend, or neighbour who has had similar work completed. They can tell you about the dependability of the contractors they worked with, the quality of the work and their overall experience with that company. Other sources are local building supply stores and through contractors' websites on the Internet.

Discuss your project with the contractor to get their advice and suggestions on how they would do the work. At the first meeting, they may give you a rough estimate of costs, depending on the project’s scope and complexity. The first meeting is usually more to get to know the contractor and the contractor’s work. Unless you have been able to check out the contractor ahead of time you should not sign anything or pay anything at this stage.
You want to find out as much as you can, so ask a lot of questions, such as:
• How long have you been in business?
• What kind of work do you specialize in?
• Have you done a similar job before?
• Will you use your own workers for the work or will you subcontract all or part of the job?
• How would you handle a specific problem related to this project?
• What work schedule will you follow?

You won’t offend reputable firms with questions. If a contractor doesn’t seem to know much about the technical details of the job or doesn’t want to talk about them, you may have the wrong contractor.

If the contractor plans to do the whole job alone, make sure they have all the necessary skills and qualifications.

Most importantly, be sure you can get along with the contractor. If you cannot communicate effectively with the contractor, things can get very tense in a lengthy project. You want a contractor who will explain what’s going on as the project takes shape, who will discuss problems reasonably and who will work with you to make the result as good as it can be.

You also want someone who’s willing and able to help you refine your plans where possible, resulting in a more desirable and cost-effective project. A contractor who is knowledgeable about the type of work you’re doing should be able to suggest ways to get what you want and meet your budget.