Article Summary
TLDR: BVM Contracting addresses Toronto's residential construction trust problem through a comprehensive paid pre-construction process ($1,500-$4,000+HST) that filters for qualified clients through 15-30 detailed questions, provides bottom-up preliminary estimates, and sets realistic expectations before any commitment.
This thorough approach—which includes constructability reviews and budget protection—transforms satisfied clients into natural advocates, fueling a community-focused referral program that keeps marketing dollars local instead of funding Meta and Google ads.
Key insight: Contractors who ask about your 5-10 year vision and explain competitor relationships honestly are more trustworthy than those offering quick free estimates.
We’ve Changed our process to align with our ideal clients
The problem isn't what homeowners tell us in our first meetings.
It's what they don't tell us. More accurately, it's what they don't know about.
When we sit down with someone whose already talked to three or more other contractors, the gaps become obvious. We ask questions they've never heard before. We explain things nobody else mentioned. Their surprise tells us everything we need to know about the industry's transparency problem.
Maybe those contractors don't want to scare away their only lead this week. Maybe the reasons are worse. Either way, homeowners aren't getting the whole truth and that is why the renovation and home building industry has such a bad reputation.
The data backs this up. 78% of homeowners went over budget on their last renovation project. That doesn't happen when expectations are properly set from day one.
The Questions Nobody Else Asks
Our first meetings sound different than what homeowners expect.
Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years? What do you value most in a home builder? Have you done substantial renovation projects before? How many other companies are you talking to? Have you been given a bottom-up budget for your project?
What do you care about most: cost, quality, or speed? What mechanisms are currently in place to protect your construction budget?
These aren't small talk. They're qualifying questions that help us understand if we're the right fit for each other.
Most contractors are desperate for any client. We learned the hard way that's backwards thinking.
One bad client can take the space of 2-3 good clients. The time, energy, and stress they create isn't worth it. Better to understand that before anyone gets too involved.
How We Build Trust Through Transparency
After those qualifying questions, we offer bottom-up preliminary estimating. With or without design drawings.
We ensure constructability, budget adherence, and project feasibility before asking for formal commitments. It's a good-faith gesture that puts our best foot forward.
It's also quite a bit of work.
We see it as the most pivotal part of our process because it filters out the wrong clients. Some appreciate our thoroughness. Others are just shopping for the lowest number.
The filter works through engagement. We ask 10-30 questions depending on project complexity, size, and available information. Clients who answer thoughtfully and engage with the process signal they'll be good fits. Those who don't engage don't get pricing.
We're gatekeeping our own estimates.
The scope of work creation and bottom-up estimate become by-products of this engagement filter. The real value is identifying clients who understand what we're providing: realistic, truthful estimates built on actual data.
Understanding Costs Versus Questioning Costs
When we debrief about preliminary estimates, client questions reveal everything.
Some ask: "Can you walk me through the HVAC scope and pricing? I didn't realize that was a consideration and want to make sure I understand what this includes."
Others ask: "The HVAC costs seem high, what is that about?"
The first question seeks understanding. The second challenges price. That distinction tells us who becomes a BVM Contracting client. We get it, price is a factor, but what about honesty? We tend to value the latter because one way or another you are going to pay the same amount, so it is up to you to determine how early on in the process you want the truth.
Understanding-focused questions mean clients are pre-selling themselves. They recognize the difference between our detailed estimates and contractors throwing numbers at walls.
Why We Started Charging For Pre-Construction
We used to give away comprehensive pre-construction services completely free.
Then we learned something critical: free attracted the wrong people. Clients who didn't see value in having a builder actively scrutinize their plans weren't right for us. We needed a mechanism to deter people from taking advantage of our expertise.
We've been taken advantage of many times over the years. We know the overwhelming value we provide to the right homeowners.
So we shifted to adding a pre-construction agreement with fees ranging anywhere from $1,500-$4,000 + HST, depending on the complexity of the project and at what point we are engaged. The savings from bringing in the right team during planning will save multiples of that cost during the project, we’ve seen it many times with our current and past clients.
The charging itself has become a filtering criterion.
The best part? The signing of the pre-construction agreement doesn’t require a commitment to work with us after pre-construction. It's a test-drive for both parties to ensure there is a good fit. The fees paid go toward the project if clients decide to move forward, but at the end of the day it is an investment in getting the right team together to ensure a buildable design.
Research shows that 95% of renovation cost overruns happen because of poorly defined project scopes. Our pre-construction process directly addresses that root cause.
From Satisfied Clients To Natural Advocates
Client advocacy doesn't happen overnight.
We work with some clients for over two years when you factor in pre-construction, design, permitting, and actual construction. That's a long time to build and maintain rapport. It also means the margin of error is slim.
One unmet expectation can sour a relationship. As builders, we have hundreds of expectations to maintain throughout that timeline.
The clients who reach the end wanting to refer others share a common experience: sound pre-construction that set proper expectations during planning. Everything that follows becomes manageable because the foundation was solid.
That's why we formalized our referral program.
How Our Referral Program Works
We recently launched a referral program for past clients, subcontractors, and network partners who know our work.
If anyone in our network doesn't want their friends or family going through a poorly planned project, they refer them to us.
The program has two options. First, both the referring party and referred party get paid when the referred party signs on for pre-construction with BVM. Second, the full payment goes to the referred party to incentivize entering a no-commitment pre-construction agreement with us.
Why offer an option where referrers give up their payment?
Through feedback, we identified two camps. Some people don't want to make money by referring us. They just want to help friends and family avoid horrible renovation and home-building experiences.
We didn't create this program out of necessity. People already refer us without incentives. The program supercharges our network to send people they think we can help.
It also keeps money in the communities we work in instead of giving it to Meta and Google for ads. Given that people are four times more likely to make a purchase when referred by a friend, this approach makes strategic and community sense.
Best Practices For Choosing The Right Contractor
If you're considering a renovation or home building project, here's how to identify trustworthy contractors before signing anything.
First, pay attention to what they say about their competitors.
If they talk negatively about other contractors, ask yourself: what will they say behind your back? That answer reveals the type of person and company you're dealing with.
Second, ask them directly how they ensure trust is maintained throughout the entire working relationship with their clients.
Their answer will either be vague or specific. Vague answers signal they haven't thought it through. Specific answers with systems and processes signal they've built trust maintenance into their operations.
Third, notice what questions they ask you in initial meetings.
Are they trying to understand your long-term vision, values, and project goals? Or are they focused on closing the deal quickly and making you commit prematurely? The questions contractors ask reveal their priorities.
Finally, be wary of estimates that come too quickly.
Accurate estimates require detailed planning that can't be done in a few hours. Contractors providing fast, free estimates are using unreliable methods. They're either underestimating to win your business or padding numbers to cover uncertainty.
Neither approach serves you well.
The construction industry has a trust problem because too many contractors hide information instead of revealing it. We built our entire pre-construction process around the opposite approach: asking questions nobody else asks, explaining things nobody else mentions, and being transparent about realistic costs before anyone commits.
Above all we know the value sound planning makes to residential construction projects, so instead of asking for committments, we provide value through a thorough pre-construction agreement and process that earns your trust along the way.
That transparency turns satisfied clients into natural advocates. And those advocates help us keep marketing dollars in our community while protecting their friends and family from poorly planned projects.
It's a system that works because it's built on truth from the first conversation.
About BVM COntracting
BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations and custom home builds (full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, new home construction, garden suites, and laneway suites). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of building their home, from concept to completion.
Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.
To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page. Learn more about our vision, mission, and values here.