Tips to Find a Trusted Vancouver Contractor – From Your Vancouver Mortgage Broker

Tips to Find a Trusted Vancouver Contractor – From Your Vancouver Mortgage Broker

We’ve all heard of horror stories about those fly-by-night contractors, and the ones that made a real mess of a home owner’s pet project.

It could be a small job such as a deck or a major renovation or repair, but whatever you have in mind, you want it done properly and professionally.

At some point many of you homeowners out there will want to hire a contractor to get the job done. You need to make sure you get the right person for the job. To help you avoid some of the pitfalls of hiring the wrong smuck, I got a few tips to make the process less painless.

Choosing aVancouvercontractor should not be performed by closing your eyes, twirling your finger and pointing in the yellow pages. You have to view it as a serious business arrangement and you want to dot your I’s and cross your T’s.

Here are a few tips from your friendlyVancouvermortgage broker to help you find a good contractor.

Finding a Contractor

One of the best ways to find a good contractor is to ask other people such as family, friends or co-workers. You can learn about some good ones right off, and even learn about some to avoid.

If you’re doing a major project, you want to make sure your contractor is properly licensed, insured and bonded. Don’t take their word for it – ask to see the paperwork, and if they baulk, then tell them to take a walk.

When you’re talking to them, don’t be shy to ask them about their training and qualifications. You want to know how long they’ve been in business, and whether they’ve completed any projects like the one you want you want completed, especially if it’s a major or involved project.

Don’t hesitate to check out the contractor’s company with the Better Business Bureau. AllVancouvercontractors have to have Contractor Certification Training under the B.C. Homeowner Protection Act, and depending on the work being performed, require special licensing.

For example, if you want some home renovations completed which doesn’t involve any major structural changes, such as the foundation; the contractor has to be a licensed Building Envelope Renovator. And, they are also required to provide warranty insurance for the renovation being performed. 

Many contractors will use subcontractors for different portions of the work. Don’t be too shy to ask about the contractor and whether these subcontractors are licensed.

Some Key Questions to Ask

Some of the key questions you should ask include:

• Do you carry liability insurance?
• Will they provide you with a written contact? This is often a boiler plate contract, meaning a standard contract. If you need to add amendments to suit your individual needs, then make sure any special requirements are included.
• Do they have B.C. Workers Compensation coverage?
• When will they start the work, and when will the project be completed?
• Ask them if they will be getting all the necessary work permits?
• Ask about their warranty insurance, and make sure you know what it covers, and what it doesn’t?

Above all else, always get references with names, addresses and phone numbers. Please talk to these people. Take a drive over and see if you can eyeball the work done, or perhaps talk to the homeowner.

Take it from an experiencedVancouvermortgage broker who knows – if a contractor tries to pressure you into signing the contract right there on the spot, or spends little time estimating an expensive job, this is a red flag. If you are hiring a roofing contractor who doesn’t even bother to climb up on the roof and properly evaluate its condition, tell them ‘Thanks – but no thanks!’.

Make sure you get at least 3 estimates and get a copy so you can look at them because you’d be surprised at some of the discrepancies you can find. The really low offer you get could be a real stinker, and not necessarily the best one. This can also be a real serious red flag.

Finally, be real careful about anyone who wants to do a cash deal, and good luck with your project!