Planning Your Project

• Before selecting a renovation contractor, you should carefully plan your project from scratch. It's important to determine exactly what you need and what you want the completed job to look like.
  
  
• It's a good idea to coordinate your colour schemes and draw a simple floor plan as a guide. Be specific in explaining to the contractor what you want and be sure to approve any architectural plans involved in the renovation job before any work begins.BACK TO TOP

Hiring A Contractor

• Always compare costs before making a financial commitment towards a renovation project. Solicit at least two or three bids from prospective contractors - bids based upon the same specifications, materials, labour and completion time.
  
  
• Discuss bids in detail with each contractor and ensure that you understand the reasons for variation in price. Don't be taken in by low prices as it might spell low quality in materials and workmanship.
  
  
• Ask the contractor for local references to investigate customer satisfaction and find out if the contractor is a member of a reputable professional association which subscribes to a code of ethics for renovation contractors.
  
  
• Also consider the insurance factor. Ask the contractor if the company is insured against claims covering worker's compensation, property damage, and personal liability in case of accidents. Then call and verify the contractor's insurance coverage.
  
  
• Finally, check with the local housing authority to ensure that the contractor meets all licensing and/or bonding requirements in your area. Make sure that the contractor is properly licensed and never pay a contractor for the entire job in advance and avoid paying in cash whenever possible BACK TO TOP

  Getting A Building Permit

• Approval is generally required whenever structural alteration or work is involved. Check with your local department of licensing and permits to see whether approval is required for your type of renovation.
  
  
• It is common for local authorities to impose conditions on approval for renovation plan. Make sure you comply with it. You are advised to include these conditions as a term of your contract with the renovation contractor and negotiate the cost on a package basis. This will avoid having to incur high variation cost which is charged separately outside the package if not pre-negotiated.
  
  
• When the local authority approves the renovation plan , it will inspect the work to make sure that it complies with various codes and regulations. It is the responsibility of the contractor to arrange for these inspections.
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Contract Negotiations

• All agreements and oral promises regarding a home improvement project should be put in writing to avoid miscommunications and for better protection. If you intend to do some of the work yourself or hire another contractor to do it, such terms should be written into the contract as well. Never sign a partial or blank contract. Read every contract clause carefully and ask any questions you may have before signing. Retain a copy of the contract once it is signed, and file it in your records.
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