Home Renovations - What You Need To Know!

Home renovations can be very time consuming and costly if not planned or carried out properly. Find out how you can make sure your renovation project starts off on the right foot, how to go about hiring contractors and what to do when your project is finished. 

Every renovation project takes time, planning, effort and money. Renovations are never as simple as you first think they will be. However, the more planning and consideration you put into the renovation before you start, the more likely it is that you will be satisfied with the progress of the project, as well as the final result.

What to do before starting

The first order of business is to assess the condition of your home and plan what you need and want to do. Finding out if there are any significant underlying problems that must be dealt with before or during your planned renovation project is an important first step. To help guide you in the assessment part of your project, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation offers a great checklist with tips, considerations and warnings regarding particular situations that may be found your in or around your home.

Once you've established what needs to be done to your home, it's now time to think about what you want it to look like. Planning makes it easier for you, and for anyone you hire, to understand what needs to be done. Write everything down, specifying what you want and the reason behind your request, and prioritize each project. Most renovation problems are a direct result of poor planning.

You will also need to check with your local building inspection department to find out which permits you'll need, and contact your insurance company to find out if there are any extra insurance considerations. These are your responsibilities, and the consequences for not getting the right permits or insurance can set back your schedule and be very costly.

You or your contractor?

Now that you've planned what you want to do, it's time to figure out who will be doing what. Being able to do most of the work yourself can save you from having to hire a contractor to do the work for you. Think about your skills and what you can do, and the amount of time that you can spend on the project. This will help you decide what kind of professional help you should look for, if any, and whether you would need an architect, general contractor or a one-person local construction company.

The Renovating Your Home section of the Canadian home Builder's association is a great resource regarding home renovations, offering information and money-saving tips from the planning process through to the end of the renovations, including a section on choosing a renovator.

The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation also has a useful webpage on Hiring a Contractor which contains useful tips and things you should keep in mind when searching for professional help with your renovation project.

Contracts
Never allow work to proceed until you have fully reviewed, understood, agreed to and signed the contract. Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation provides a sample renovation contract, with information on what every contract should include.

Once the work is finished

Before you make the final payment, both your contractor and you should do a walk-through and inspect the work. This is the time to take a close look at everything and note any problems or imperfections. You'll be asked to sign a completion certificate. Remember: don't sign it until the work is finished and you're satisfied with it.

Your contract specifies the amount of time that you will have a warranty on all the work done by your contractor. This means that if you have a problem with the renovations before that period of time is over, you have the right to contact your contractor so that the repairs can be done.

For more information on renovations and contracts, and the recourses available to you if contract stipulations are not met, contact the consumer protection organisation of your province or territory.