Go with your gut

With hundreds of options in Edmonton, how do you choose the right renovation contractor?  This is one of those situations where your gut feeling, and a lot of research is the only answer. Renovations cost 10s to even 100s of thousands of dollars – whom you’re giving that money to is a really big decision.

Here are a few tips to help you in your search:

Choose someone you like. A kitchen renovation, for example, can take a couple of months depending on the scope of the job, which is why you really need to like the person who is going to be in and out of your house for that long. Go with your gut!

Reviews, Referrals and References are valuable tools you can use in your search for a contractor.  If you haven’t already, post on your personal Facebook page to see if anyone has a recommendation or experience with a company they’ll share with you. Once you have your short list of candidates, Google around and see how your selection stacks up by checking online reviews. Keep in mind, negative reviews are not necessarily a reason to toss someone out of the running, but they are something to take seriously. Did the business respond? Was it resolved?

Contract:  What are the payment terms? This is where it’s really important to educate yourself because it’s likely different depending on where you live. In Alberta, a contractor needs to have a prepaid contracting license in order to accept payment for services that are not yet completed. This  means, if your contractor is asking for 50% up front and 50% on completion, ask to see their license because if they don’t have one, they’re not allowed to take deposits. The Fair Trading Act forbids any contractor from accepting payment for home construction, maintenance, renovation or alteration from a consumer prior to the contract’s completion without a prepaid contracting license.This includes taking a deposit. There are a few exceptions though, so do your research.

Renovations are a stressful time and it’s important that you feel GOOD about the contractor you choose. If you’re interested in DV Custom Built for your next renovation, we can assure you that we have a prepaid contractors license, ample reviews and we’re pretty likable