How to find one
- Word of mouth
- Building centres
- Through other tradespeople like plumbers and electricians
What to ask
- Are they bonded, licensed, insured and covered by workers' compensation
insurance? The Association of Workers' Compensation Boards of Canada website has links for all provinces.
- What will the work schedule be?
Money matters
- Rates vary.
- On large jobs, split fee into instalments with firm payment schedule.
- Withhold 10 percent on invoices for 30 to 60 days to avoid liens on your property if contractor fails to pay suppliers or workers.
Comments
- The more info you have on your project the better, right down to the style of fixtures and materials.
- Trust your instincts; a personality fit is crucial.
- Contractors should ask you as many questions as you ask them; be wary of one who doesn't.
PLUMBER
How to find one
- Word of mouth
- Yellow Pages for well-established companies
- Through your contractor
What to ask
- Are they licensed and insured?
- What is their training and experience?
- Does the quote include fixtures, repairs to walls?
- What guarantees do they offer on their repair or installation work?
Money matters
- Going rate: $60 to $80 per hour for most jobs.
- Flat rate varies on small routine repairs.
Comments
- It's cheaper to group tasks, so if you have multiple jobs, try to get them all done at once.
- Avoid possible markups by buying fixtures yourself.
- Get multiple quotes on large non-emergency jobs.
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