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
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