Choosing a reliable Contractor
Sample Wallet Card - source AB Apprenticeship and Industry Training Website
Don’t Get Snowed (photo credit Kelly Allard)
The recent Mike Holmes endorsement controversy is shocking to many fans of his many shows including “Holmes on Homes” where he literally tore apart the shoddy work of previous contractors. Mike Holmes showing Canada how many bad contractors are out there cemented his rock star status as a beacon of trust. This trust was then used to provide endorsements for homes and contractors, not always with good results.
One developer in Ontario was selling homes in a neighbourhood which included advertising for the Holmes Approved Homes Inspection package. This developer (as well as other defendants including Mike Holmes and the municipality) was sued when the homes started falling apart, some had to be demolished as there were major structural defects. As it turns out, Holmes’ company says they had no access to the homes as they were being built; the affected homeowners did not purchase the Holmes Approved Homes Inspection package.
As we progress to spring, thoughts turn to the inevitable construction season, new builds, renos, etc. We have a lot of good contractors in this city, some are even great. However, there are those who are less qualified even though they may look well-established.
Don’t Fall For Bulllshit
Some contractors take shortcuts, some are downright incompetent. When the safety of your family is at stake, you must choose a reputable contractor. An incompetent electrician can cause a house fire, an incompetent framer can cause an unstable structure.
Over the coming weeks the Medicine Hat Owl is going to do a deep dive into how the building process works. We will bring you information on how to choose a good contractor so your job gets done right the first time. Your home is the biggest investment you will ever make.
In the meantime -
1 Make sure your contractor is licensed by the City. If they don't even have a business licence, then I would not trust them to work on my home. I learned the hard way that it costs far more when you go cheap.
2 Make sure your contractor has WCB AB coverage. If they do not have WCB coverage, they can end up suing the homeowner if they get injured on the job. Get a clearance letter here - no WCB account needed
3 Make sure they are pulling permits to get the job done. All new builds require permits. If you are merely replacing something that was there before - an existing window, door, roof, etc, permits are generally not necessary. If you are adding something new, then a permit will likely be required. You can call down to City Hall to see if permits have been issued or if they are necessary.
4 A good contractor will usually not be available on a moment’s notice; the greatest contractors often have a waiting list. A job well done is one worth waiting for.
5 Check the qualifications of the people doing the work. Journeypersons and registered apprentices will have a wallet card - apprentices must work under the supervision of a journeyperson. (One exception is for roofers who are self-employed. Anybody can pick up a hammer, start a company and say they are a roofer. If their roofing company hires roofers as employees, those employees must be journeypersons. To get around this requirement, some roofing companies will only hire self-employed people. )
You can check wallet cards here. Here’s a list of out of province credentials - Red Seals can work anywhere in Canada.
6 Check for insurance. Ask to see a liability insurance certificate.
7 Get written estimates from more than one company.
8 Do not give any money up front unless the contractor is licensed as a prepaid contractor - you can check their status here.
9 Sign a written contract with completion dates, materials to be used, payment dates, etc. Make sure you add a clause for delay penalties. A legal contract has a start and an end date - if they will not give you an end date, run them off!
10 Do not hire someone who knocks on your door saying “we are in the neighbourhood and can give you a great price…”. The fly-by-night operations will often do this.
This page is a good resource for you to start your construction/ renovation journey.
