How to hire the right contractor

How to hire the right contractor

This article is meant to help you with selecting a contractor to do work around your home. I have been in the construction industry before my changing occupations to retail, and we have all heard and seen on TV about nightmare contractors. These five steps will help you select the right contractor. Do not short change yourself by selecting someone who can start your project next week. Most good contractors you have to wait for.

• Check references. When hiring a contractor ask for and check the references you receive. We check for references when we hire employees, so why not when you hire a contractor. This includes going to look at some of the previous jobs to see the quality, and to talk to the customer to make sure the contractor has the manpower to complete your project.
• Check for insurance. Make sure the contractor gives you proof of insurance called an insurances binder. Look to see how much insurance coverage he has and that it is enough to cover a major disaster if necessary. Make sure he has both liability and WSIB because if he brings in other tradesmen, they all must be covered under the insurance program.
• Licensed trades. When bringing in outside contractors to do work on your home, make sure they use only licensed people. That way you can feel comfortable with the work being done.
• Permits. When doing major work on your home, the contractor should know when it is necessary to get permits from the city. It is always a good idea to phone your local city building department to ask if a permit is required.
• Paperwork. Make sure a written estimate is given to you describing in detail the work to be performed, and who supplies what. If there are any changes, either adding to the job cost or subtracting, make sure there is a written estimate and change order signed by you and the contractor. This should also include the payment terms and how much of a hold back you are going to have until you are satisfied with the job.

Hopefully you have learned something from this article and are now prepared to attack that renovation, with you and your contractor focused on completing your project.

Leonard McAuley
Pollocks Home Hardware

Taken from The Journal, September 2006 issue