How to Choose a Renovation Company in Toronto?
There are many risks involved when choosing a renovation company for the first time. Many first-time renovators encounter difficulties with either labor or capital due to a lack of experience in this area. If you happen to be so unlucky as to mistakenly hire an unprofessional renovating team, there’s little you can do but accept the costs.
There is no shortage of renovation companies in Toronto, from high-quality and affordable to overpriced and disappointing. How can one know how to choose the best one within their budget?
JY Construction has been in the renovating industry for nearly 10 years, and we’re here today to share with you a few tips to help you make the wisest decision.
Step 1: Choose a licensed and well-documented company
Under Ontario law, a proper renovation company must have a Contractor’s License and a clean criminal record.In addition, a competent and experienced renovation company will also hold some sort of certification from a professional regulatory body. For example, in Ontario, Canada, the following qualifications should provide additional assurance to homeowners when choosing a renovation company:
- Home Construction Regulatory Authority
- Building Industry and Land Development Association
- RenoMark Quinte Home Builders Association
You can check whether a company has all the right qualifications by searching through the above-mentioned websites. For example, upon visiting the HCRA website, you are given the option to search the company name and address. The picture below shows JY Construction as an example.
Similarly, you can do the same on Renomark’s website; again using JY Construction as an example below.
Never hire an unlicensed renovation company to save money. Not only will the quality of the finished product be put in jeopardy, but many problems also may not be easily detectable. Faulty electrical circuits, water leakage, and crude low-quality builds can all remain hidden until it can be too late.
It’s also absolutely imperative that the construction team has commercial and [W.S.I.B]https://www.wsib.ca/en)worker compensation insurance, or the liability might fall on you.
We at JY Construction recommend a minimum of $2 million in construction insurance for residential projects and up to $5 million if your project is in a commercial setting. It’s essential that you don’t allow the hired company to downplay the importance of insurance. If any accidents occur during construction, especially ones that affect your neighbors such as a burst pipe, without proper insurance, you will have to take personal responsibility for costs incurred by repairs.
What’s the WSIB?
The Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB) is the workplace compensation board for provincially regulated workplaces in Ontario. As an agency of the Ontario government, the WSIB operates “at arm’s length” from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development and is solely funded by employer premiums, administration fees, and investment revenue.
In the event of a workplace accident on site, if the hired renovation company is not registered with WSIB, the homeowner is at risk of being held liable for the full compensation. On the other hand, if the company is WSIB covered, the owner is in the clear, and WSIB will take care of the issue from accident report to compensation.
For your reference, JY Construction is a trustworthy team that has $5 million in commercial insurance and has been selected by WSIB as honorary company of the year several times in recent years.
Step 2: Check complaint records of renovation companies online
But is it enough for a renovation company to have a business license, professional qualifications, and insurance? Sometimes, all of the aforementioned are simply not enough.
The easiest method to find out the reputation of any construction team is to consult with friends and family. If it is a renovation company previously used by someone in your circle, you may see the finished product and inspect their work first-hand.
JY Construction has many clients who are referred by friends, especially for commercial renovation projects. If running a restaurant is within your future plans, feel free to visit a nearby Yunshang Rice Noodle, Haidilao, or Real Fruit to see our work firsthand.
Additionally, you can check if the company has a record of complaints and whether their licenses meet industry standards. Both can be done through the websites below:
Tips: Apart from officially regulated sites, use public forums at your own risk and take all the information you find with a grain of salt. These comments should be used for reference only, as both positive and negative reviews can easily be manufactured.
Step 3: Understand the details of the quote, don’t just go for the lowest price
After doing your homework and selecting a renovation company, discuss your needs and budget in detail and allow them to come up with a tentative quote as well as a contract.
When analyzing a quote, the price shouldn’t be the only factor considered. The bulk of the focus should be on:
- The comprehensiveness of the project outlined
- Quality and brand of materials used in construction
- Projected project timeline
- Whether mandated permits and design fees are included
- Waste disposal fees
- Warranty period
Apart from nominal price, one should consider the following:
- Various specifics of the project
- Method of payment
- Payment Timeline
- Initial Deposit
- Additional Materials
It is important to note that the detailedness of a quote does not denote legality as it is not considered a formal contract.
Tedious as it may be, you should never neglect to study a contract’s fine print. Loopholes stemming from the smallest details can potentially result in severe disputes later on. It’s not uncommon for clients to experience difficulties halfway through a project due to sudden increases in project fees or delays in completion time due to ambiguous or even missing contract stipulations. Unfortunately for them, there’s no one to complain or report to if you encounter these issues. It is therefore crucial to go through a formal consultation process and a legally binding contract to avoid these types of headaches down the road.
JY Construction
We are recognized for our extensive experience, professionalism, and work quality. Many of Toronto’s restaurant chains have been renovated by JY Construction. You can see our portfolio by clicking this link.
JY Construction is committed to providing the most professional custom solutions tailored to each home/business owner. If you have any questions or renovation needs, please feel free to contact us!