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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1989-05-17, Page 25THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 1989. PAGE 25 CMHC provides guide to choosing a contractor Sooner or later, your home is going to need repairs or renova­ tions that you cannot or don’t want to do yourself. But just because someone else is going to do the work does not mean you can sit back and relax. If you want your home repaired properly, promptly, and at a rea­ sonable cost, you have to find the right contractor to do the work. How you select a contract and whom you select can make the difference between a rewarding and a harrowing experience. Canada and Mortgage Corpora­ tion has prepared a short and simple guide to finding the right contractor. Called “How to Hire a Contractor’’, the booklet is avail­ able from Publications, CMHC, 682 Montreal Road, Ottawa, Ontario. KIA 0P7. Finding a contractor is the first step. If you know people who have had repair work done on their home recently, consult them. Satisfied customers are a contractor’s best recommendation. Local building supply and hard­ ware stores, or local building associations may be able to suggest a contractor. Once you’ve assembled a few names, your final selection should be based on a thorough check of the contractor’s previous work. Repu­ table contractors do not mind if you ask for their business license number or the names of previous customers. Check out the “too-good-to-be- true’’ contractors - for example, those who promise a discount if you allow them to use your home “to advertise their work”, or who knock on the door and say they just happen to be working in the neighbourhood and can give you a “special price’’. After you’ve narrowed your list down to three or four, the next step is to ask the contractors to bid on your project. Get at least two, and preferably three, bids to ensure a fair price. The contractors should come to your home to inspect the work to be done and to discuss your require­ ments. The contractors who will not do this should be crossed off your list. Do not sign or pay for anything on this initial visit. The contractor should provide a written estimate giving complete specifications of the work to be done, price and terms of payment, and a realistic starting date. Compare bids to make sure materials and work specifications match, or that differences are explained. If most of the bids are similar but one is very much lower, treat the lowest bid with caution. A low bid may mean that the contractor has made a mistake or doesn’t know enough about the work to estimate it properly. Your attention to the bidding process will pay off in the long run. Many a homeowner has been left with poor workmanship or an unfinished job because the contrac­ tor ran out of money, materials or time. Make sure the person or company you hire can fulfill the terms of the bid. Once you choose a contractor, you sign a contract for the work to be done. Don’t sign if you are not satisfied that the contract describes exactly what you want and contains everything promised by the con­ tractor. Remember, contracts are legally binding on both parties. If changes need to be made to the contract, get them in writing. Have the contract rewritten if you are not completely happy with it. In general, a contract should include the following: •The names and addresses of the homeowner and the contractor. Make sure the firm you are dealing with is the one named in the contract and that the firm’s full name, address, telephone number, and the name of its representative are shown. Beware of the firm whose only address is a post office box, telephone number or answer­ ing service. •A detailed description, with sketches, if needed, of the work to be done and materials to be used. This includes all sub-contracted work, such as plumbing and wir­ ing. This is the area where most misunderstandings arise. Never accept verbal assurances. They are not binding. •Written assurance that all ne­ cessary permits will be obtained by the contractor and that work will adhere to local building codes. •Acceptance of responsibility by the contractor for removing all debris as soon as construction is completed. ♦A statement of all warranties, explaining exactly what is covered and for how long. •A statement of the contractor’s public liability and property dam­ age insurance. This is important. If someone is injured in your home while work is in progress, you could be held liable if the contractor does not have proper insurance. •Firm starting and completion dates. •Price and terms of payment. Contracts take many forms covering special situations, but all should contain these provisions. The contractor may also include a contingency clause allowing addi­ tional charges in case of unexpect­ ed problems during the work period. Make sure that your written approval is required before the contractor can go ahead if changes to the original work described in the contract are needed, or extra charges are incurred. Once work has started, resist the urge to move to a hotel, out of the way of workmen and inconvience. Your careful inspection of each stage of the work in progress will go a long way towards achieving a successful outcome. For those serious about their home ^Interior Design (Consultant (Cumplete (Commercial & iResibential B’eruices BY PATTI ROBERTSON 135 Victoria St., Wingham 357-2872 Propane tank not included OSCILLATING SPRINKLER Waters up to 2.800 sq ft. Aqua gauge lets you see how much water has been put on 591-381 SHEPHERD GAS BBQ WITH 26,000 B.T.U.’S Features large 377 sq.in. cooking surface. Push button ignition with 2 independent cook­ ing controls. Heavy-duty nickel plated cooking grill Premium quality cedar side shelf. 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