Canadians spent a whopping $68 billion on house remodelling and renovation compared to $20 billion on house purchases in 2014 and the story continues in 2015 too. Visitors passing through any neighbourhood in Montreal, Toronto, Calgary, Ottawa, Vancouver, Edmonton and elsewhere are assured of having glances of work vans loaded with supplies for local construction companies doing remodelling work. Indeed, Canadians are willing to open their wallet and hire best home renovation contractors to update homes with luxury colour pallet, personalize hardware, refurbish kitchen design with trademark and even add more space to live or make an income.
The Experience
Now the million-dollar question, residents are spending a big chunk of their savings, but how they sum up their experiences? Is it good or just average so-so? Do they think hired home improvement contractors are true professionals? What prevents them to make an excellent remark? Do they still think the home remodeling service providers engaged are a mark less than perfect choices?
Montreal resident and life coach Anna Riddell’s story is an example how big spending goes astray and hassles keep you seething in anger when you fail to hire the right renovation contractor. Busy in her professional engagement, the mother of three had no time to check for Montreal construction companies offering renovation services. Anna preferred to go with a friend’s referral and hired a home renovation contractor without any homework.
She erred first in hiring a renovation contractor who worked only in renovating bathrooms and no previous experience of doing kitchen and basement remodeling jobs. And this selection made Anna to remorse and she struggled to keep her mind off things.
Anna did not hesitate to pay $5,000 to the Montreal construction contractor before the work started and another equal installment a week later. Her ordeal began with delays, substandard work and lack of communication with the chosen renovation contractor, who also jumbled in getting supplies, finalizing kitchen designs, engage interior designers, plumber and carpenters, as the need arises.
The end result – Mrs Riddell got a kitchen after four-time schedule overshot and it came with water lines disconnected, cabinets not properly packed, flooring look less than ordinary, woodwork awfully lacking and plumbing nightmare. The biggest of all headaches her kitchen failed in municipal inspection. She was scared of shoddy or unfinished work.
Dozens of calls made to her contractor went unanswered. She has already paid $10,000 and still nowhere. An online search revealed the renovation service provider had no kitchen remodeling experience and many like her wrote scores of disillusioned feedbacks. A rude shock she was somehow able to wither.
Anna went through all available names of Montreal construction services in her locality again and selected one among five shortlisted renovation contractors. This time she did her homework well searching and contacting referrals and reading feedbacks. All short-listed contractors are asked for point of communication, estimates, insurance, lien check, pros and suppliers with them and registration numbers. She also searched the company name using words, such as “scam,” “rip-off,” or “complaint” before selecting the chosen one. She signed a proper agreement with a defined cost and schedule.
An additional $8,000 she incurred to finish the job left by the previous home renovation company. But this time she was completely free from any hassle, albeit more than ever cautious. However, no need to scramble here and there and incur headache over construction contractor’s failure to return a customer’s calls. She learnt her lesson for not doing homework at the first instance and validating credibility of the home renovation contractor prior to hiring him.
The Checkmate: Renovize Solution
Hundreds of Montreal residents like Anna suffer from mental and physical agony and end up losing money and time. They have paid thousands of dollars for home improvement, but rarely have an excellent experience. News reports show countless instances where Canadians are scammed through substandard work of shady professionals and forced to hire a second construction contractor for renovation.
To avert an Anna-like experience, be attentive to certain points.
- Check the registration of the renovation contractor you are about to hire.
- Registered ones have proper office and liability insurance.
- Verify if any complaint pending against the contractor
- Search referrals and reviews online
- Ask for a lien waiver to ensure you do not have any liability to suppliers or workers
- Sign a written contract before the work starts and insert schedule, cost and cancel clauses
- Beware of frequent cash demands by the contractor.
- Avoid upfront payments exceeding one-fourth of the estimate.
- Pay in installments as the work is done.
- Seek multiple estimate proposals before hiring one renovation contractor.
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