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The dark side of renovation
Written by Administrator
Wednesday, 06 May 2009 18:30
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The Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association (GOHBA) advises homeowners to resist the temptation to save money on their renovation project by hiring an "under-the-table" or a "fly-by-night" contractor. For many consumers, these projects end up costing more than if they had hired a professional and can easily turn their renovation into a nightmare. Steve Barkhouse, Chairperson of the GOHBA's Renovators' Council, has first-hand experience with the dark side of renovation. "The renovator who didn't come back, the job that was never completed, the money that is gone . . . unfortunately, the Association has heard it all. Our best advice to those homeowners is to hire a professional renovator to help salvage the pieces." Professional renovators work on the basis of a written contract that spells out what is to be done and what the costs will be. By contrast, cash deals are usually verbal and, when the project goes off-track, the homeowner has little recourse except to spend money in bringing the contractor to court. Professional renovators carry all the required insurances and Worker s Compensation coverages. This protects you against financial loss should an accident occur on the job. Hiring a contractor leaves you open to very large financial risks. Your homeowner's policy won't necessarily help if you knowingly took part in an illegal transaction by hiring an "under- the-table" contractor. Professional renovators are in business for the long term. They must satisfy their customers to stay in business. They stand by their work by guaranteeing the job and providing solid after-sales service. "Fly-by-night" firms get into renovation work looking for some fast cash, and they often lack both experience and skill. Your satisfaction is not their concern most likely they will be in a different line of work before you get your renovation nightmare sorted out. Hiring a professional means getting the job done right putting your home in the hands of someone with the experience and commitment needed to do things properly from beginning to end. For a list of professional renovators in the Greater Ottawa area, contact the Greater Ottawa Home Builders' Association at 723-2926, or consult this web site. |
