Hiring A Home Contractor: Top 10 Questions to Ask Before You Decide
By Kathryn Haley
Don’t ever assume you know the answers. What you expect contractors to do and what they actually do can be miles apart. Ask the questions before you hire them; put their answers down in writing in front of them and you stand a much better chance of your renovation going well.
So here we go. In no particular order, the top 10 questions to ask before hiring your contractor.
1/ How long do you estimate the job will take?
It is important you understand this is an estimate, however, you want the contractor to know they are being held to a reasonable timeline.
2/ What kind of insurance do you carry?
When hiring a contractor or sub-contractor, make sure each carries public liability and property damage insurance. Do your homework by taking the time to check with the insurance agency to verify that the policy is still effective and will be throughout the duration of your renovation.
3/ How big is your crew?
If they work alone the job will take longer than if they have a crew of 2 or 3 guys. You should insist on licenced plumbers and electricians for those areas of the job. Also ask if they are all employees or do they use sub-contractors. They will have more control over employees.
4/ Will YOU be on site every day?
Home owners tend to assume the general contractor will be on site at all times. Rarely is that the case.
5/ Who is responsible for getting permits?
This one will flush out those contractors who don’t want to get permits. Although it may make the job go faster and save a little money, you as the home owner run a huge risk if the workmanship is faulty and there are no permits.
6/ What are the names of 3-5 past clients I can contact?
Speaking with past clients, and if possible, seeing the work done, is very important. I recommend seeing the work since your expectation of finish quality may be different then the person you are speaking with.
7/ What is not included in the quotation that you know I will need?
This one flushes out those contractors who are trying to low ball the quote to get the job, and then come back to you later and add things in. Unforeseen things come up in renovations, however, too many contractor are leaving out things they know you will need just to get the job.
8/ Do you belong to any professional organizations?
They will have more accountability if they are members of professional organizations. These could include:
Home Builders Association
Better Business Bureau
Chamber of Commerce
NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association)
9/ What is the schedule of work?
What you are looking for here is an approximate timeline for each sub trade; to find out if there will be people on site every day; what hours they will work; when there will be lulls in the progress. Home owners are often surprised to find out the workers want to start at 7:30 or 8:00 am or work on the weekends.
10/ What is the best way to get in contact with you?
Determine if email, text or calling is the best form of contact. Communication breakdown is the number one source of renovation frustration. Also determine if they are available after business hours to discuss concerns.
So there you have it; the top 10 questions to ask before hiring a contractor. Getting the answers to these questions will give you the clarity you need to make the best choice for you.
Remember, the contractor isn’t the enemy. If both parties are clear of the expectations from the beginning of the project, you stand a much better chance of having a successful renovation; and ultimately that is what you and your contractor want.
Can you think of any other questions to ask? Share them with us in the comments below!
Happy Renovating!
Conquering Fear: An Independent Woman’s Story
By Angie Oliveira
I’d like to think that I’m an independent person, somebody who will try to do things once before asking others for help. I guess this is the stubbornness in me, but I firmly believe that you have to learn to take care of yourself before you let others take care of you.
I’m always dispensing this advice to my friends, my married sisters and especially my mom, who I think relies heavily on my dad. My relationship with my boyfriend is no exception. I bought a house before so I could live on my own, and the boy moved to England to pursue his dream to teach aboard.
Since then I’ve learned to kill ugly bugs and sleep in an old creaky house. I rarely play the damsel in distress act because I hate to appear weak, but there are certain things that I just can’t deal with, specifically mice.
Mice issues are inevitable especially when you live in an older neighbourhood in Toronto and are doing some kind of renovation. The problem first reared its ugly head when I started to gut the basement.
At that time the tenant upstairs had a huge amount of mice in her apartment and the current noise electronic rodent repellent devices weren’t just cutting it. It really didn’t affect me since I was still living in my parent’s cushy suburban home.
A rodent expert was called and the mice issue appeared to have dissipated by the time I moved in. The boy was living with me for 3 months and not a mouse in sight; that was of course until he moved abroad.
Once I found 2 mice stuck on glue traps in the basement. I called my dad in a panic who instructed that I had to cover them with a bucket just in case they broke free. I had to give myself a pep talk just to muster enough courage to do that. After a couple of “I can’t do this,” in a tone that should only be reserved for six-year olds, I finally screamed and quickly threw the bucket over the traps.
My parents cannot understand why I would be afraid of such a small thing as a mouse. My answer is exactly the same as to why my mother won’t drive on the highway, or why my father won’t stand in a body of water that is more than knee deep. It’s our phobia.
My dad is quick to remind me that mice are tiny creatures who “will never run to you, they will always run away from you”. Yes, I understand they are harmless, but they still creep the hell out of me.
I once again had to face my fear. I woke up to the sound of a mouse that was caught in a black box trap sitting in the corner of my bedroom.
It was 1:30am, I panicked and I had a “why-the-hell-did-my-boyfriend-leave-me?” moment. Yes, this so-called independent person is now wishing her boyfriend was around to help her. What else was a girl to do, so I called my dad. I had two options, cover the trap with a bucket to muffle the sound or move to the next room.
Realizing the noise wasn’t going to end, I did what any normal independent girl would do in my situation. I got up, moved to the next room and went to bed with my fingers in my ears.
I can deal with a mice problem, but it doesn’t mean I have to face it head on.
When does my boyfriend come back?
Cost vs Value: How to Make Your Renovation Payoff
By Greg Andruff
With all of the uncertainty in the Real Estate market recently, many people have been asking about how to make their renovation the most profitable when they go to sell. Whether you are a “Do It Yourselfer” (DIY), or you hire a contractor, proper budgeting and planning are key to saving you both time and money.
Planning – Why, How, Who, Where and What
Why -The first step in planning a renovation is figuring out “Why” you want to make alterations. For example, if you are looking to update a bathroom is it because you want more space or just updating fixtures? Home improvement projects should typically be done with a mindset that you are improving your home for your own enjoyment. Often renovations are done at a large expense and owners are looking to recover costs only to find that their home sits on the market without any interested buyers. It is reasonable to expect improvements will increase the value of your home, just make sure you are realistic with your expectations which can happen if you have a plan. So choose your upgrades wisely, or it could cost you even more in the long run.
How - When budgeting, ask for project quotes from 2 or 3 reputable contractors that specialize in renovations. If you are doing a DIY project, shop around for you materials. Explain what it is that you want as clearly as possible, and get estimates in writing. Remember to give room for a contingency of 10%-15% for cost overruns or unforeseen costs.
Who- You may want to engage the services of a contractor for a number of reasons. One is that you want the work to be done according to building code (especially in the case of resale.) Future buyers want warranties that all renovation work has been done to code. Also, they will be able to assist in getting the proper permits which can be a hassle and a challenge for someone who has never done it before. At the end of the day, if they are a true professional, they will save you time and money!!!
If you want to do it yourself, acquire free home remodeling plans and ideas from the Internet, home remodeling supply centres, open houses and home magazines. Many of these resources can also help you with advice and “how to techniques.”
Major Point – High quality appliances, spacious rooms, and quality construction will go a long way in improving your value. Be careful of cutting corners that turn off potential buyers. If you are working with high end materials, give them high end treatment and installation.
Where- Keep in mind the neighborhood in which you are renovating. A project should be relative to the dwelling. For example, don’t remodel your kitchen for $30,000 in a $100,000 home. The Appraisal Institute of Canada warns, “If the value of your home exceeds the average market value in your neighborhood, your renovations will not yield a significant return. However, if your home value is below the average, you can recover a larger part of the renovation costs.”
What – Here are the “percentage recovered upon resale statistics” from the Appraisal Institute of Canada:
75% to 100% – Kitchen and Bathroom upgrade
50% to 100% – Interior painting
50% to 80% – Roof replacement, Replacement of furnace or heating system
50% to 75% – Expansion (addition of family room), Doors and windows, Deck, Installation of hardwood floor, Construction of a garage, Fireplace (wood or gas), Central air conditioning, Finished basement
25% to 50% Wood fence, Interlocking paving stones on driveway.
So you can see that the kitchen and bathroom are what pay out the most in returns when you sell your home. Conversely, those are the places that really appeal to buyers. If you have a little bit extra money to spend, those are the areas that you will want to spend more. Also, note that a fresh coat of paint can really help energize a home and often pays for its self too.
Tips-
- A house that looks nice inside will sell at a slightly higher price and above all it will sell faster!
- Build to what most people will like! A renovation that cost $25,000 is not worth that much if it is done with poor taste.
If you have any other tips for getting the best bang for your renovation buck, share them with us in the comments!
Greg Andruff is a member of the residential real estate team, Team Andruff, with the slogan “Our product is homes…our passion is people.” To contact Greg visit www.TeamAndruff.ca or call 778-899-4267
Home Is Where Her Heart Is
By Kathryn Haley
TD Canada Trust has conducted polls for women home owners for 3 years. Here are the findings of the latest survey according to the TD Canada Trust website.
Home is where her heart is: 3rd annual TD Canada Trust Women and Home Ownership Poll reveals the growing importance of having a place to call your own
TORONTO, January 20, 2010 – Although financial security continues to top the list of home ownership benefits, the comforts of home are increasingly important to Canadian women. According to the third annual TD Canada Trust Women and Home Ownership Poll, which surveyed women who have purchased a home independently, key features of home ownership, including being able to renovate to suit individual tastes and having a garden, are now more essential to Canadian women than they were in 2008.
When asked to describe the best things about home ownership, Canadian women said it is about making a house a home. Having a place of their own (34%), being able to decorate or renovate the way they want (34%) and having a backyard or garden (32%) were some of the responses that increased dramatically from the first survey conducted in 2008. Women had cited having a place of their own at 22%, being able to decorate or renovate the way they want at 14%, and having a backyard or garden at only 5% back in 2008.
“Even though the comforts of home have become increasingly important to women, the financial reasons for home ownership have also increased in importance,” says Chris Wisniewski, Group Product Manager, Real Estate Secured Lending, TD Canada Trust. This year 44% of women ranked financial security as the best thing about home ownership compared to 23% of a similar sample of women in 2008. Second on the list of best things about owning a home was not having to pay rent or pay other people (38% versus 13% in 2008). “It’s not surprising that the financial reasons for ownership have increased in importance for people. People are looking for ways to feel financially stable again and see home ownership as a way to build equity and invest in their future.”
The financial commitment of owning a home can be a double-edged sword; for many women home ownership offers a sense of financial security yet the financial responsibility can be a headache for others. Twenty-nine per cent of women say that the additional expenses and financial responsibility related to owning a home are their least favourite things about home ownership.
In fact, getting more advice when talking to experts and asking even more questions is something most women surveyed wished they had considered when buying their first home. When asked which topics they wish they knew more about when they purchased their home, 40% of women wished they had more knowledge about the fees and costs associated with purchasing a home, 32% wanted more information about the expected annual expense of owning a property and 30% wanted more information about mortgage options.
About the TD Canada Trust Women and Home Ownership Poll
The TD Canada Trust Women and Home Ownership Poll surveyed women 18 years of age and older from across the country, to explore home ownership behaviour among women. The survey was conducted by Angus Reid Strategies with English and French speaking Canadians using the Angus Reid Forum. The sample size includes 1,000 women who have purchased a home independently. The answers from 361 women aged 20 to 45 were used to compare to the 2008 poll which surveyed this age group exclusively.
So what do you think? Do you agree with the results? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Forget Granite: Meet Aurastone!
By Vera Darius
As a decorative painter I am always excited to discover new innovative products. I have recently discovered a product called Aurastone™ and I wanted to share it with you.
According to the Aurastone™ website “it is an architectural coating used in the faux finishing industry. Decorative artists and designers alike are quickly integrating the Aurastone™ system for a number of reasons. The Aurastone™ finishing system is unparalleled in durability, versatility and aesthetic appeal.
Aurastone™ is simply the most user-friendly product available. Hundreds of decorative faux effects can be created utilizing our one-bucket system. Many faux finishes involve four to five steps to create the desired look. The cost of these additional layers and left over materials can add up quickly, cutting into your profits. Utilizing Aurastone™ eliminates many of these laborious processes because most Aurastone™ finishes involve only two or three steps. In many cases labor can be cut by fifty percent utilizing the Aurastone™ system. Since Aurastone is a one-bucket system there is virtually no wasted or unusable product.”
Key Advantages of Aurastone Compared to Granite or Marble
Courtesy of Aurastone.com
Granite stains easily with fruit, peanut butter, olive oil, bacteria, etc.
The possibilities for this product are endless. Consider finishing your old outdoor furniture or perhaps making your furniture virtually indestructible by refinishing it. Can you think of an exciting use for Aurastone in your home? Share it with us in the comments!
Vera Darius is the Owner of Genuine Art Effects a company specializing in painting and decorative finishes. For more information on Aurastone or to arrange an in home consultation, call Vera at 604-831-2383 or visit her website at www.genuinearteffects.com
Contractor Nightmares! Here’s How to Avoid Them
By Kathryn Haley
It seems everyone has heard a renovation horror story about someone working with a contractor. Have you? Maybe it is the one where the 2 month project ended up taking 2 years to finish? Or perhaps you have heard the story about the contractor who walked off the job in the middle of the project?
Throughout my years in the industry I have heard many terrible stories and I have seen first hand the results of a job gone bad. I have been brought in to advise and try to help fix the problems. By that time I am dealing with angry, suspicious and tired home owners. Here are some tips to help you keep a good relationship with your contractor so you end up happy with the house of your dreams.
1/ Get references and check them.
This one should be a given, however, many people don’t do this before they sign a contract. Call the references for sure and if possible go and see some work the contractor has done in person. By seeing a finished project you can see if their work is up to your standard. If you just chat with someone on the phone, you don’t know if cracked drywall and bad trim joints are ok with them.
Make sure you have a written contract and that it covers all the areas the contractor is responsible for. If they aren’t willing to take the time and write it down, they won’t be willing to take the time on your house. This should include time lines, a completion date and payment schedules.
2/ Don’t micro manage the workers.
I know you as the home owner are interested in what the workers are doing and some of you want to learn how to do certain things yourselves. However, it is not in your best interest to stand over the workers and watch their every move.
Think about how you would perform your job if someone was standing behind your shoulder all day. Probably not very well. The job will go faster and have fewer mistakes if you let the workers do their job without interupting them and getting in their way. They will appreciate the space and they will do a better job.
3/ Voice concerns quickly.
It is not in your best interest to stand over the trades, however, it is a good idea if you can check in on the progress once or twice a day. If you are working while the renovation is going on, try to get home before the workers leave for the day.
Progress can be made very quickly so if you see something that you aren’t happy with, point it out before it is too late. If you miss the workers, leave a note for them so they can see your concerns the next morning. Or better yet, stay home until they get there so you can explain your concerns in person.
Also, if you come home and you are really happy with the progress that was made or with something specific, leave a note and let them know. You would be amazed at how much good will this creates. Don’t forget the trades are people too and they will be respond to positive feedback.
4/ Keep communication open with the Project Co-ordinator.
Not only do you want to leave notes for the workers when needed, you want to stay in touch with the project co ordinator. They know when the trades are coming and they control the schedule.
It’s a good idea to touch base with them once a day. Don’t call more than that unless there are decisions that have to be made. You don’t what them ignoring your calls because you are hassling them.
5/ It’s not a holiday.
Although it is nice to offer the trades some water or coffee, some homeowners go too far. I have heard stories, and even had my own clients, making the workers lunch, letting them use the pool, or offering beer at the end of the day. I don’t recommend this level of generosity.
There are a couple of things that can happen when you are too generous with the trades. I have seen projects that drag on because the workers are having so much fun they don’t want the project to end. This ultimately upsets the home owner and the renovation company.
The other problem is that once you start these types of perks, it is very difficult to stop them. The workers come to expect them and the power shifts from you. I have seen it first hand where trades are helping themselves to the homeowners fridge and asking when lunch is.
A better idea is plan a small gathering after the project is over for all of the sub trades that have worked on the project. It is an incentive to get the job done, and it allows you to show your appreciation on your terms.
You can have a good relationship with the contractor and the workers if you follow these tips. Remember that they are people and treat them like you would like to be treated. Point out concerns quickly but calmly and maintain a healthy balance between friendly and professional.
Have you experienced a renovation nightmare? Share it with us so we can all learn from it.
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