Tips for Planning a Home Renovation

Hi All!

Well, spring is now upon us and for many people thoughts go to planning home renovations. If you are planning a home renovation, there are important things the Ministry of Consumer Services wants you to keep in mind to help you make smart choices and protect yourself.

Find a good contractor: Ask friends, family or neighbours who have had work done on their homes recently. Avoid contractors who offer a cash deal – without a receipt you have no proof of payment. Don’t be pressured into signing a contract “on the spot” in order to get a “special deal”, take your time and make a well informed decision. Set aside time to interview each contractor in order to determine their qualifications and their experience. Always ask for references and take the time to contact them!

Get an accurate estimate: Arrange to get estimates from at least three contractors who should meet with you personally in order to have a clear understanding of the work you require so they can give you an accurate estimate. Make sure you get everything you agree to in writing, including the total cost of the renovation which should take into account what is included in the price quoted and what is not (materials, parts, labour, permits, etc). It is also important to know the terms of the warranty for all work that is going to be done. In terms of financing, keep deposits to 10 percent – NEVER pay for the job before all of the work is completed – ALWAYS keep a holdback (around 10 percent) until the work has been completed to your satisfaction.

Sign a contract: Always read the fine print (the terms and conditions) before you sign a contract with your contractor and NEVER sign a blank contract. Make sure all of the work to be done is addressed in the contract. ALWAYS get a written contract before the work begins and make sure it includes the name, phone number and address of the contractor, and the full name of the person who provided the estimate.

The Ministry of Consumer Services’ website provides lots of great information and tips regarding home renovation and repair, to view please click here.

Until next time,

The Jamie Dann Team

To Renovate or Not To Renovate?

Renovating a house is part of home improvement as it will enhance the look of your home. However, please be aware that not all renovations will be beneficial to you, especially if you have plans of selling your house in the near future. Before you begin a costly renovation of your home, consider these helpful tips that could save you money and could change your perception of renovations as an investment in your home.


One common improvement owners do is putting in a swimming pool. If you think that the addition of a swimming pool will make your home more attractive to buyers, you may want to think again. Swimming pools need regular maintenance which can be costly and some buyers may not want that added expense and work. Also, families with small children may think twice before purchasing a home with a pool.

Another common improvement to a home is elaborate landscaping. Although this helps to beautifying your home, some buyers may be uninterested and may perceive it as an additional expense, thinking that they must hire an experienced gardener for regular maintenance of it.

For more information about home renovations please click here to view a great article I recently came across.

Until next time,
Jamie