Make sure you’re hiring a professional.

Check that contractors carry liability insurance and workers’ compensation. It’s even better if they are members of one or more professional associations (e.g. The Canadian Home Builders’ Association) which help regulate industry standards.

Ask for references and check them out.
Go see contractors’ work - in fact, see work in progress, or else a contractor will show you only finished gems, not how you can expect a project to go.

Don’t pick the cheapest or the costliest guy on the block.
Some companies quote low but nail you for extras, while those with higher quotes may actually be more honest in spelling out everything right from the start.

Allow for the final bill to come within l0 to 15 per cent of the original quote.
There are always additional expenses along the way, but the final price shouldn’t be that far from the budget set out.

Plan months ahead.
It’s true of construction people too. All the good ones are taken, so don’t expect to pick up the phone and have someone start next week. If they’re any good they’re likely booked solid.

Propose a retainer instead of a deposit.
There’s no need to pay one-third up front, which some contractors typically ask, unless it’s for things such as kitchen cabinets or windows that need to be paid for right away. For big jobs just a monthly retainer should be acceptable until the job officially starts and you agree on a pay schedule; a retainer isn’t necessary for smaller jobs (e.g. $10,000.00).

Know the scope of the work to be done.
The more you know about what you want and the better you can communicate that to the contractor at the inception of a renovation project, the smoother things can go. Making up your mind, or changing your mind, along the way only eats up time and drives up the final price.

Don’t get mad at Mother Nature.
Expect weather to affect the project’s timelines and maybe even create challenges and setbacks.

Check your ego at the door.
Emotions can flare up wherever there’s drywall and nails and some clients start to think they should be directing the project. The way Caruk sees it, people hire a contractor because they don’t have the time or skills to do the project themselves, so let the professionals do what they know how to do.

Be realistic and keep an open mind.
That means setting a realistic plan, then realizing that projects are fluid things that change and that there are always labour pains. Be ready to roll with the punches.


The above is an excerpt from an interview with Jim Caruk of The Caruk Group, a Toronto builder and renovator with approximately 20 years experience, on hiring a reputable contractor and setting realistic project expectations. The interview was conducted by Angela Pirisi and published by The Costco Connection March/April 2007. The Registry of Professional Contractors of Ontario thanks them for their kind permission to reprint part of this article.