11 Home Renovation Tips and Tricks for Toronto Homeowners

Being in the home renovation industry in Toronto for the last 25+ years has taught us some valuable lessons on how to effectively and efficiently complete home renovation projects (big and small). Learn more below about some tips and tricks for ensuring that your next renovation project is a success.

Tip #1: Hire an engineer versus a designer for load-bearing wall removals

This one is a pretty helpful one because many times your structural engineer will be able to submit your permits for you in the same way that a designer or architect would, you will just be paying the engineer directly versus paying a marked up price from the designer or architect. The General Contractor you are going to work with will know an engineer to use so make sure you ask them if they could refer you to them to get the engineering completed and submitted to the City for permit.

Tip #2: Do not accept renovation cost estimates that only have one price

If your renovation company is not willing it itemize the cost of the project for you chances are not a very transparent company. Before you sign anything with a renovation company in Toronto, be sure to get a breakdown of costs to better understand where you are spending the money. The added benefit of itemized budgeting is that you can complete progress draws with your General Contractor instead of giving your renovation contractor random amounts of money that may not line up to the actual amount of work done.

Tip #3: Always ask for references

It sounds crazy but we’ve had to stop some of our clients from signing on with us till after they spoke to some of our previous clients. Sometimes people are so sure of something that they forget to practice due diligence. Most times it is fine if you are dealing with a Reputable General Contractor in Toronto but even if you are it is valuable to learn from past clients about the experience and what to expect.

Tip #4: Avoid Hiring friends or family for your renovation project

We’ve had to intervene on a few of these types of projects where a client gave one of their friends or family “a chance”. The problem with giving people a chance is you are usually given some sort of discount (or free labour) which leads to poor quality or a neglected project. It goes back to the concept of “good, fast, and cheap - you can only have two”, it is up to you if you want to get the project done fast and well or take your chances. Based on our experience with past projects the former almost always prevails.

Tip #5: Plan your project well in advance

Most renovation companies in Toronto worth their weight will not be able to take on your renovation project next month, it will likely be more like next quarter or next year. It is for this reason why you should be reaching out to a renovation contractor in Toronto as soon as you know you can afford and plan a renovation project. There are a lot of details that are missed with home renovations that could have been dealt with before the project started, and it is up to your General Contractor to educate you and ask the right questions before getting you on their project schedule.

Tip #6: Hire a local renovation company

If you are planning a home renovation in Scarborough you should not be hiring someone who lives on the West End of the City to renovate your home. Instead, hire a renovation contractor in Scarborough to take on your Scarborough renovation project! It is very likely that if your Contractor is working locally that they will be able to manage your project better and deal with anything that comes up more easily because they live 10-15 minutes away instead of 1-2 hours away.

Tip #7: Finalize your client-managed spending before committing

Many times your hired Renovation Contractor or General Contractor will give you a list of items that will need to be bought by you for the project to be completed. At BVM Contracting, we supply a comprehensive list of client-managed materials and items that will be needed during your home renovation, but at the end of the day it is up to our clients what their final selections are. If you want to spend $12.5 per square foot on hardwood have at it, but make sure it is budgeted and accounted for so you have enough money by the end of the project.

Tip #8: No plumbing additions, no structural work, no HVAC alternations, no permit

Note that if you are not adding plumbing fixtures, completing structural work, or adjusting the HVAC you will likely not need to pull out a permit for your renovation project. You would be able to get right into the work but make sure you still follow the same steps if you are planning on working with a General Contractor.

Tip #9: For the hands-on folk - ask to manage aspects of the home renovation

Don’t be afraid to ask your General Contractor or Home Renovation Company about what you can do to help bring the costs down. A lot of the time the best way to do this is to put some sweat equity into the project versus using hired or subcontracted labour. BVM Contracting has done this numerous times with a lot of success for our renovation projects in Toronto, but only for certain portions of the project.

Tip #10: Make sure you leave some money at the end for deficiencies/final holdback

Many times there is a good lump of money that your General Contractor should leave till the end of the project that gives you assurance that all of the minor details in the renovation project are dealt with. This varies from one renovation contractor to another but expect to holdback around 5-7.5 % of the total contractor-managed value for the final invoice/payment. Make sure in the renovation contract that the holdback amount is stipulated as well!

Tip #11: Retain Independent Legal Advice Before Signing a Renovation Contract

This is usually mentioned in any good renovation contract but is seldom utilized by homeowners from our experience. It is always good to get someone with your interests in mind to review a contract of any large value to ensure it is written to protect you and is fair.

Conclusion

These are only some of the tips and tricks that we recommend to ensure a successful renovation project in Toronto. It is important to also work with a renovation company that puts education first and will help guide you along the process so that when it comes time to commit you feel like you are making the right decision of which renovation contractor to work with.

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 (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating 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.