Tips for a successful renovation project:

Our living space is very important to our physical and mental health, lifestyle, and happiness.
The amount of time we spend in our homes or workplaces each day, our daily activities, and the air we breathe in these rooms have a direct impact on our lives, businesses, and relationships with people surrounding us.
It is essential for everyone to take the right steps to keep their living spaces healthy and, at the same time, environmentally friendly.

A number of steps can be taken to achieve this goal, outlined later in this piece, but first, I would like to mention a few words about the fear and anxiety of dealing with contractors for renovation, a fear that holds many people back from taking steps toward improving their living spaces.

Here, I will explain the steps one could take toward a renovation job with minimal risks. There are challenges in each project, and in order to deal with them in the proper manner requires patience and knowledge. I hope the following will help you to get the necessary knowledge and confidence for your next project.

1- Identify your needs and write them down.
Writing down or drawing a plan will help you memorize the changes you wish to implement and present it to the potential contractor for a quotation. 

2- The following improvements are considered a small project:
changing windows; redoing the kitchen counter and floors or bathroom retrofit; painting; replacing the handrails or guardrails; replacing the floor covering; curtain and blinds replacement; crown molding, baseboard, and casing addition or replacement; painting; insulation addition; re-roofing; door replacements; closet addition; repairs on the facade of the building; changing the heating system or hot water tank; changing gutters and downpipes; repairing fascia boards or window trims; adding a solar heater; redoing the drain tiles. Usually, they do not require a city permit, and it’s much easier to deal with:

•   If you are the kind of person who wants to do things by themselves, all you have to do is buy the material for the best price, get the tools, and roll up your sleeves. You might as well call up some friends to give you a hand. Either you’ll be proud of your work after it’s done, or you’ll get tired and will hire a contractor midway through.

•   If you don’t want to experiment with your ability to do things, follow the following steps: first, investigate the product you would like to install by searching online; visit department stores or invite designers or contractors to offer their opinions. If you want to hire a designer, they will charge you for their opinion, but you’ll get more professional results, and you’ll minimize the risk in your investment. However, some contractors have design ideas that could help or have a designer on board who can help with the process. Many contractors don’t charge fees to come up with the quote, but some do. Make sure to ask beforehand to avoid surprises.

Choose a contractor:

You can find a contractor from many different sources: phone books, Google, online directories, websites offering leads, word of mouth, mail-in advertisements, offers, and so on. But remember to interview them face-to-face and make sure they are on time for their interview and sharp about the scope of work. 

Before getting into a contract, you need to know that the contractor carries WCB, construction liability insurance, and has good referrals. Contact their referrals and make sure they are happy with their work. Being a member of an association is not an added value; anyone can become a member of an association by paying their membership fees, including the BBB. You can check their standing in BBB to make sure the contractor doesn’t have a claim. Make sure they already have or will obtain the municipal working license.

Explain to the candidate contractors what is on your mind and listen to what they propose. Each person has different ways of doing things; some could fit your job, some not. What is common in this industry is that everybody wants to criticize others for faulty workmanship in order to keep themselves ahead of the competition. You be the judge and choose the one you feel has the most experience. Please don’t hire the least expensive contractor unless s/he give you a valid reason why their price is the lowest.

When you receive quotes from different contractors, make sure their work, materials, and designs are the same, and compare them accordingly.

Hiring a general contractor over individual trades is recommended if you have more than one task or trade to deal with.

A general contractor has better access to trades and materials at a better price and is responsible for each trade’s job. When you hire trades separately, you must be the manager of their scheduling and work. This would require building knowledge to know the chronological order of each trade. 

The scope of work and finishing materials have to be discussed and recorded in the contract.

Make sure the contract covers the following items:

Contractor (name of company) ______________________________

Address

Project manager

Telephone __________ Fax ___________ E-mail _______________

Business Number ________________________________________

Owner(s)

Address _______________________________________________

Telephone __ _______Fax ___________ E-mail ________________

Project address (if different from above)________________________.

Description of Work

Scope of work and details of material, if any drawings are available, refer to the drawing.

The Work does NOT include the following:

Timing

Terms of Payment
The Contract price is to be calculated as follows (select one):

(i) Stipulated fixed cost basis (all inclusive) $__________________, plus applicable tax  Payments shall be due and payable as outlined in the Payment Schedule.

(ii) Cost plus ______________% of cost, plus applicable tax Payments shall be due on a bi-weekly _______ or monthly ________ basis (check one).

(iii) Cost plus fixed fee of $_______________________, plus applicable tax

Payment Schedule

Changes in Work Utilities and Washroom Facilities

Warranty

Other Contractors

Owner reserves the right to let separate contracts in connection with the Work or to do certain work by Owner’s own forces as specified in Description of Work.

Dispute Resolution
The Owner and the Contractor agree that in the event of a dispute as to the interpretation of this Contract or the extent of the Work, the issues shall be submitted to arbitration as agreed to by both parties or under the province’s arbitration statute.

Default by Owner

Default by Contractor

Signs

Since the payment method is laid out based on the stage of work, make sure each stage of the job has been achieved before making the stage payment. 

It’s wise to hold back a percentage of the payment for a short period of time to make sure the final job meets your expectations. This is an arrangement between you and the contractor. It might not be necessary if you get a good relationship with him, so you can trust him.  

3- The following changes are considered to be major improvements and need a few more steps to take before starting:

Addition of a garage; addition of a room over the garage or any kind of extension vertically or horizontally; adding windows to the side of the house; removing any wall on any floor to create open space; adding a kitchen into the basement or adding a suite to any floor; adding bathrooms; adding a deck or balcony; covering the existing entry; adding bay windows; adding load to the heating system or hot water; adding load to the electric panel or adding a new one; adding a window well for basement windows; adding new stairs or removing one; and adding a carport or a covered patio.

Since some of the work above requires professional involvement, the municipality would like to see a permit that has been issued for such work. It’s recommended to discuss with the building department of your municipality to make sure there are no objections to your project. 

Next, talk to an architectural designer, a certified building designer, or a certified interior designer who is familiar with your area’s zoning. It’s easy to spot one, and their price ranges are similar (except if you hire a draftsman or a college student, in which case you pay less for less expertise).

In order to apply for a permit, you need the filled application form from the municipality along with a drawing. Your drawing must include the following with proper scale: site plan, floor plan of the house as existing, floor plan of the house as proposed, elevations, cross sections, and details. If your project deals with a structural load, such as removing walls or adding floor area, a signed and sealed structural drawing with Schedule B will be required. If your project deals with site work, setbacks, or height, a signed and sealed survey drawing from a certified survey engineer will be required. (The scope of work for a survey engineer differs in every project. Make sure your designer and survey engineer are in sync with the city requirements to avoid overpaying. 

A good designer can help you with introducing the structural engineer and survey engineer.

The municipality will take your application and drawings to check against the local building code and municipal zoning and will issue the permit after you pay the appropriate fees.

Meanwhile, the permit application is in process; you can interview your prospective contractors for quotations. A general contractor is recommended for these kinds of projects and is a huge plus. The rest of the steps are similar to section B mentioned above.