When you need work done around your home and you’re not able to do it yourself you will most likely need to find a local professional contractor. Ensure that you first write up a detailed description of what you are looking for. This will give the contractor a clear understanding of what the project entails and it will also ensure that all contractors that you have bidding on the project will be using the same reference point.  Having multiple bids is important as it will give you a good understanding of the variations in contractor qualifications (years in business, licence, insurance), pricing and range of material used (low, medium and high end) so that you can decide what is most important for you.  Getting bids may be as easy as asking a few family members or friends for recommended contractors and or using online bidding sites which offers detailed profiles of contractors and preliminary screening information. Once you narrow down your bids to a few candidate contractors how can you ensure that you hire the right contractor for the job? The following are some things that you should be aware of before making your selection:

In screening your contractor candidates start off by checking to see that they have a license and are insured (general liability insurance and workers’ compensation).  You can do this by checking with your provincial or state licensing board to verify licensing information provided by the contractor and by asking the contractor for proof of insurance. If not insured, keep in mind that any accidents that occur while they work at your home will be paid by you.

For major renovation projects a permit may be needed. If one is needed, it is always optimal for the contractor to pull the permit.  If you obtain a permit in your name, you will not be able to protect yourself in the event of substandard work.

Next check the contractor track record…history is a great predictor of future performance. One way is to get a list of references of jobs he or she has done in the past. Don’t just look at the list though, call a few of those people to make sure they thought the work was done properly and that the contractor was reliable. Find out if there’s anything that in hindsight would have improved their experience with the contractor so that you can avoid those mistakes if you choose to work with the contractor.  Also, ask if it might be possible that you view a renovation that was completed by the contractor.  This may not always be possible but it doesn’t hurt to ask.

Does the contractor suggest putting terms of agreement in writing before initiating the project?  This is a good sign.  Beware of contractors that try to delay putting your agreement in writing.  This will only come back to haunt you if you have any disputes once the project has commenced. Insist on a complete written contract that identifies all tasks, related costs and payment schedule.

Finally, payment is recommended to be by cheque.  However, it is not necessarily a bad sign if the contractor is requesting that you pay in cash.  Many contractors have been given bad checks before… just ensure you are getting a receipt for your payments and only make final payment when the work is complete to your satisfaction.