How to Choose a Contractor for Your Home Repair

Home repairs offer an exciting opportunity to fix and upgrade your home with the help of trusted professionals. In this guide, you’ll learn how to choose a contractor who can reliably complete the work on time, within budget, and using industry best practices.

Homeowners don’t always get to decide when a home repair project crops up, but you can choose the right contractor for your next minor fix or major reno. Rather than calling the top Google result and hoping for the best, you should vet contractors and kitchen or bathroom remodel companies before investing your time, money, and home security. We’ve heard far too many stories about repairs and renovations done poorly and contractors with big promises and little follow-through.

How do I choose a renovation company?

Every handyman you consider will say they can do the job, but there are other steps to take and signals to help you determine the right fit. Our Hamilton repair contractors are guiding you through the vetting process for your best project outcomes and a place you’re proud to call home.

Do I have to use my insurance company contractor in Ontario?

It’s a common misconception that homeowners must use the home reno contractors recommended by their insurance company to perform repairs under their coverage. While they might recommend specific contractors, you have the freedom to pick any qualified and licensed contractor you prefer. Rather than letting the insurance company give recommendations based on profitable partnerships, vet your own contractors in Hamilton and beyond to ensure you’re getting the best work possible.

Steps to Choosing the Best Home Renovation Company

1. Define Your Project Scope and Budget

It’s impossible to choose the right home renovation contractors when you don’t fully understand your needs or budgetary limits. Before you start researching contractors, build a comprehensive list of the work you’d like done, rank items by priority, and collect visuals to use as inspiration to help you show contractors precisely what you’re looking for.

When you know your needs, you can start pricing them out. Research the average bathroom or kitchen renovation costs and other repair projects in the area through Google searches, customer reviews, and consulting with friends and family. Set aside a contingency fund of 20% more than you think you’ll need to serve as a buffer if surprise expenses arise. Set up any financing options you’ll need, get pre-approvals for loans, and create repayment plans. This plan will help prevent you from getting in over your head financially or miscommunicating about scope and expectations with the home remodeling contractors.

2. Ask for Recommendations

Reach out to trusted family, friends, neighbours, and colleagues who have completed home repair projects within the last five years – they’ll have the most up-to-date information. Listen to their personal experiences to help narrow your search and look to third-party review sites like Google Reviews, searching “general contractors near me” to get unbiased ratings of local options.

Ask specific questions around more than just the quality of the work, like contractor punctuality, professionalism, ability to follow timelines, problem-solving skills, and communication standards. These details might feel secondary, but they greatly impact your experience along the way and your end results.

3. Verify Credentials and Licenses

In Ontario, there are specific construction laws and regulations in place to safeguard homeowners and workers. All Ontario contractors must be registered with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board and hold valid workplace insurance coverage that protects homeowners from liability if an accident arises during the project. It also offers coverage for workers injured on the job.

You should always ensure a contractor is licensed, insured, and operating responsibly, so check their standing through the Government of Ontario’s Consumer Beware List. This list contains businesses with unresolved complaints or legal issues, two waving red flags to try another option.

4. Request Multiple Quotes

Never settle for the first quote – even if it ends up being the one you eventually choose. You should obtain at least 2 – 3 quotes to ensure a fair price and adequately compare services across different home renovators or kitchen remodelers.

Some contractors will offer a slightly better price if they know you’re seeking multiple quotes because they want to win the job. Some contractors might charge slightly higher prices but offer better warranties, so your value could be higher than it appears.

You want to compare apples to apples, so get itemized, detailed cost breakdowns that allow you to understand where every dollar is going and potential cost discrepancies. For example, you want to know if taxes are included or in addition to the quote.

5. Interview In-Person & Tour the House

How do you interview a contractor?

Schedule an in-person or virtual interview with your shortlisted home renovators. Ask questions about how long they’ve been in business, past references, payment schedules, estimated timelines, and more. You can get a better feel for professionalism when you’re face to face to determine if a renovation contractor is the right fit.

Tour the house with the contractors and ask for their input and suggestions. If they have some great creative ideas and seem genuinely interested in fulfilling your needs rather than piling charges onto your invoice, it’s a green flag to consider them seriously.

Tall Oak Contracting — Renovation Companies Near Me

Follow these steps, and you can confidently choose a reputable general contracting company in Hamilton that can finish your renovations on time, within budget, and with ample communication along the way. Some research and due diligence go a long way in ensuring the best results possible on your next home improvement project.

Our licensed and insured home repair service company in Hamilton can walk you through the options for your next home repair project. Request a free quote or call us at (289) 680-9131 to learn more.