Choosing a contractor... don't get scammed

Get it in writing
If everything checks out, it's time to sign the contract. In addition to the basic business information (address, contact numbers, business and GST numbers), the contract should have a detailed cost breakdown (materials and labour), indicate start and completion dates, and explain warranty details. Any irrelevant sections of a pre-printed contract should be crossed out or labelled “N/A.” For really large jobs, such as a home addition, you might consider hav-
ing a lawyer read over the contract before signing. Think of any legal fees as added insurance.

Upon signing, the contractor will probably ask for a deposit, typically 10 to 20 percent of the total job. If they insist on something higher, this should tip you off.

And, it goes without saying, you'd be wise to avoid “cash deals.” For lengthy projects, it's possible that the contractor may ask for instalment payments to be made when certain parts of the job are completed. This payment schedule should be tied to the completion of specific stages of the job and written into the contract.

A done deal
Now that you're probably terrified to let anyone with a tool belt within 1,000 feet of your home, it's a good time to point out that the vast majority of contractors are honest, hard-working people who aren't out to take advantage of anyone. To use the old cliché, it really is only a few bad apples that spoil the barrel. With just a little extra legwork, you should be able to pick the right contractor.

Contractor questions
Here's a sampling of general questions you should ask for
each estimate:
- How long have you been in business?
- What kind of work do you specialize in? (Keep in mind that the true meaning of “specialize” is not an open-ended shopping list.)
- How many jobs similar to this one have you done?
- Do you have the appropriate licences? (Ask to see these, and take note of licence numbers.)
- Will you use your own crew for the work or will you subcontract part of the job? Are the subcontractors licensed?
- Are you and any subcontractors covered by workers' compensation and liability insurance?
- How do you deal with potential health hazards such as
asbestos removal?
- Why is your price higher (or lower) than the competition's?
- Are cleanup and garbage disposal included in the price?