When looking for a contractor, looks can be deceiving so it is important to do your research.
Veteran contractors Manny and Anderson at Hardcore Renos always tell their clients that you wouldn’t say “I DO” on a first date so don’t do it with a contractor. Even if it is a referral, make sure you do a thorough background check. How many times have your friends said ”I know just the right person for you”?
Hardcore Renos recommends that you consider these 10 points before you take the plunge with a contractor:
The Dating period:
The contractor you choose will effectively become a major part of your life for the duration of the renovation, so take the time to do the research. Meet with multiple contractors and go see their work. Remember that your contractor has a family too. Soccer practice, date night and other events mean they will have other obligations. If you expect them to work on your home all day, every day, you will be disappointed. Follow your gut, if you get that sense that something isn’t quite right, you may not be ready to commit.
Pre-reno agreement: Before any work begins on your home, you should have a contract or agreement in place outlining the work involved and the estimated costs. It should also spell out responsibilities and the expectations for the finished project as well as potential unforeseen variables.
Plan together: It is a mis-belief to think that the build will take the most time. Your contractor should spend more time planning than building. So before any work begins on your home, make sure there plan that is agreed between you and your contractor.
Picking up the permits: Research whether you need building permits as you will likely need one. You even need a permit to do demolition. Always expect permits to take longer than anticipated. Some contractors will handle the permit paperwork while others will leave that to you.
Budget: Your contractor should provide a detailed estimate of the renovation, with a clear payment schedule. Payments should be made according to the work completed, rather than particular dates. It should also include a detailed breakdown of expected finish material and installation. If you agree to install a simple light fixture and then purchase one with more than 200 pieces of crystal, you can’t expect your contractor to do it for the same amount.
Expect a rainy day: Even with the best planning, any renovation will hit unexpected twists and turns. Your contractor should be able to tell you about the changes and clearly communicate your options, even when all the choices mean more money. And there should be a little wiggle room. There might be some issues that will cost $100 while others might be more pricey. If you are going to get nervous about every overage, you probably need to re-do your budget.
Agree on a schedule: A renovation will take longer than expected but make sure you agree upon a basic timeline.
Communication: Handing over the keys to your largest investment will probably involve some stress. Make sure you are comfortable talking with your contractor before you start, and that he or she takes the time to answer your questions. You will need to communicate with each other throughout the build. Social media might be able to help. If your contractor is posting photos of progress on Twitter, you will know exactly what’s happening.
Listen: As the build starts, your contractor may have suggestions or changes based on what is found. So your plans may have a certain layout but if you find your floor joists go the other way, be willing to discuss other options or additional costs. And don’t be afraid to take advantage of uncovered useable space for a few extra dollars such as a built-in cupboard or shoe drawer.
The inevitable break-up: While many marriages last, your relationship with your contractor will eventually end. Make sure the parting is amicable, because you never know: after some time, you may start feeling that you would like a little more work done.
Hardcore Renos is a renovation show built like no other. Intrepid renovators and high school friends Manny Neves and Anderson Hinds embark on renos that will not only amaze you but also inspire. For updates on their current project – an entirely new re-build of a home in Toronto – visit www.hardcorerenos.com as well as on Twitter at @hardcorerenos, Facebook and the show’s YouTube channel.
Would you like the opportunity to win this Kohler Moxie™ Showerhead:
Open to: Canadian residents only, excluding Quebec
Giveaway ends: July 2nd, 2013, 12:00AM
Definitely main bathroom!
Definitely my kitchen 🙂
Kitchen…that’s what we are currently pricing out and planning out.
Just one room? It would have to be the kitchen. The way it is now seems “impossible!”
I would renovate my kitchen for sure – my house is only 3 years old but there is so much I would like to change about my small kitchen.
Kitchen for sure!
I would renovate…hard choice…probably the bedroom 🙂 Would love a new bed!
I would love my kitchen to be redone.
My kitchen, for sure!
It’s hard to say. Bathroom or kitchen would be nice, but the basement could use a reno, too. Final answer: basement.
The next renovation on our list is the upstairs bathroom, we should be starting this fall. Winning this showerhead would be a bonus.
My rafflecopter name is Julie G.
hard choice as my kitchen and bathroom could both use an upgrade but my bathroom is worse lol so I would say bathroom
At this time we are currently renovating our kitchen and the bathroom but I really want to renovate the bathroom
My kitchen
thanks
Definitely the kitchen!
The kitchen!
My bedroom
my basement
I would renovate my bathroom. cardshark42(at)hotmail(dot)com
If I were to renovate 1 room in my house it would be the kitchen!
bathroom!
RAFFLECOPTER NAME is Anne Taylor
the kitchen
My bedroom
The kitchen.
My ensuite bathroom for sure. We kind of cheaped out on it when we built the house, so I would really like to spruce it up.
It would be either our Kitchen or the bathroom. Probably the bathroom needs more work at the moment.
My bedroom~!
My Main Bathroom. We need a new tub and it needs an overhaul!
I am in the process of doing the kitchen….
This would go in my downstairs bathroom. It’s next on the reno list.
The bathroom for sure!
My kitchen.
I would love to redo my main bathroom and bring it into this century.
We want to renovate our downstairs bathroom/laundry room to put in a sit down shower
Kitchen!
The kitchen!
The kitchen for sure!
My kitchen
My basement
The den. It’s so small but i would love to turn it into a small bedroom or a big walk in closet.
billiondolllarprincesss@hotmail.com
My main bathroom
leannemacg at gmail.com
Does the deck count as a room? An outdoor room perhaps…..
I really want to reno my kitchen.
Kitchen or bathroom
I would renovate the kitchen
My bedroom needs the biggest makeover
for sure my bathroom!
Our master bathroom. I hate our shower doors. They are so hard to clean. I’d like to rip the whole thing out and start over. This shower head would be a good start!
The kitchen
Bathroom!!!
My kitchen
Definitely my bedroom
The kitchen
Victoria Ess
We plan on renovating our main bathroom SOON! It is so outdated and is in need of some much needed upgrades! (Rafflecopter: Laird N Crystal Englot) (Email: perfectly_wickless@hotmail.ca)
bathroom would be first on the list
I would renovate my master bedroom and closet!
A new baby room!
I would renovate my kitchen
The master bathroom would be my first choice.
My kitchen first, then my bathroom hands down
My kitchen, still 1950’s, yuck
We have plans to renovate both the kitchen and the bathroom. I think the kitchen will be first. My husband is in the construction industry so we have good contractor contacts
My Rec Room.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
I need to renovate our kitchen
abfantom at yahoo dot com
I need to renovate my basement. Water damage has made the partially-finished level a huge mess. 🙁
Adina H.
My kitchen needs a little work (Sabrina Tong on Raffleocpter)
The kitchen. Ours is tiny and our appliances are ancient!
the kitchen!
my kitchen!
(Karla Sceviour)
My living room.
The Bathroom
kitchen
my living room
my main bathroom really needs a renovation
I would love to renovate my kitchen/dining area.
The kitchen for sure
the kitchen
I would reno my office
My kitchen.
It would be the bathroom for sure.
My guestroom!
My bathroom!
*Tammy Dalley*
I would renovate my kitchen
Id renovate the kitchen!
kitchen for sure
Most traffic in the house – undoubtedly the bathroom. Renovate to accommodate grown boys (do’s & don’t….need I say more)….
The bathroom, though the kitchen would be tempting.
Thank you for the great tips on hiring/what to look for in a reno professional!! We would reno our old as dirt bathroom…ohh what I wouldnt give to not mop up water after everyones bath or shower *sigh*
id renovate the bathroom first
Definitely my kitchen, it could really use an update!
The kitchen. It is ancient!
we’re in the process of doing it … basement bathroom
The living room because that’s where the guests mingle the most. It’s getting out of date!
Well, I would love both my Kitchen and Ensuite bath – but if I had to pick JUST one, then I would probably say the kitchen
I would LOVE to have my bathroom redone. It’s in need of a redo!
I would absolutely love to have my ugly bathroom reno’d
my kitchen as its the first room you see when you enter my home and its so dated
Kitchen fer sure~!!
kitchen
Bathroom needs to be renovated
the kitchen
Actually, we are renovating the downstairs bathroom next.
DOREEN LAMOUREUX
I would renovate the basement into a Man Cave for the hubby.
it would be the kitchen it is outdated
cathycasper@hughes.net
I would have to say the bathroom is in need of renovation
Our master `suite`would be the top of my reno list…I would love to turn it into a suite!
Thanks!
Dawn
Wow.. just one room lol! Bathroom
The kitchen and the bathroom both need rehauling but the kitchen is central so I would say the kitchen is at the top of the list.
I would renovate the washroom in the master bedroom.
I’d like to update my kitchen countertop, knobs, and handles.
Angela Mitchell
the bathroom I would love a soaker tub
Would love to renovate my bathroom and add a nice jacuzzi:)
my kitchen, it is from the 50’s
would be the bath for sure. Nothing has changed in there for over 10 years!
my basement! its not done and is terrible!!!
My bathroom, I would love a designer style bathroom.
I would want to renovate my bathroom, its super tiny
slip_of_the_knot666@hotmail.com
My downstairs bathroom…I would love to update it so it has a spa feel!
my bahroom – would kill for a tub that i can relax in
My kitchen for sure
The kitchen would be my choice
The next room we are going to work on renovating is our kitchen
The bathroom, it was last updated in the 60’s I still have a green tub and sink
We’re actually looking to move our woodstove and renovate both our basement and the main area of the house!
the kitchen
The kitchen is first on my list (as soon as we finish the bathroom we have been working on forever)
This comment has been removed by the author.
I would fix the kitchen.
the kitchen, need more counterspace
The basement.
This comment has been removed by the author.
the next room that needs to be renovated is the bathroom
Bathroom. It’s tiny and there are 6 of us.
Our bathroom. We have slowly been working our way through our house renovating room by room and the bathroom is on our must do list.
definitely the bathroom, it’s like a dump in there!
rafflecopter – Yan Deng
My family room!
the kitchen for sure
my children’s bathroom….it’s extremely outdated
We have done a bunch of renovations already, but I would love to do the upstairs bathroom
Can I say the patio? haha
I would renovate my den
We’d start renovating to make room for the 2nd bathroom
THE BATHROOM!! omg it needs so much work!!
The living room!
master ensuite
My bathroom
Since we already updated the master ensuite it would either be the girls bathroom or the kitchen next (although a finished basement would be nice too!)
can get my whole house done?
The Family Room, basement. Berry Yogurt Yum Yums
abrennan09@hotmail.com
My email for the above comment – sorry.
I would renovate our main bathroom. It’s two shades of pink.
We are renting but if had to change anything about this place it would be the kitchen!
I would renovate my rec room.
I would change the kitchen
It would acually be my bathroom. I would make it much bigger by knocking out a wall.
my craft room. it is so in need of shelves to organize it
The bathroom. It hasn’t been renovated since the 70’s !
The bathroom and kitchen. Everything is so old.
Haha, definitely the kitchen 🙂
bathroom
I’d renovate one of the bathrooms and this fixture would be very useful there.
My bathroom
kannw27 at gmail dot com
my kitchen
I would renovate my living room
ky_grandma40@yahoo.com
Bathroom, nothing in it yet.
My guest bedroom
I’d renovate the kitchen, it’s small and could use some work
the main bathroom
My Kitchen
It would be the kitchen for sure!
I would renovate my kitchen
addictedtorodeo at gmail dot com
My bathroom. I would love a spa tub
I renovate my downstairs powder room.
eddingsfamily@prodigy.net