Trusted Tips and Resources

Trusted Tips & Resources

Trusted Tip How to hire a local qualified contractor for your Regina home improvement or renovation project.

As homeowners we all wonder what questions to ask a contractor to avoid a potentially horrible situation.  We have all heard  nightmare stories of home renovations gone wrong but how can anyone be sure this wont happen to them?   At Trusted Regina we believe we can help.  Trusted Regina was formed to help the public find local businesses you can TRUST.  In this article we share some of the ways we research businesses to ensure we have the best local contractors.  Giving you peace of mind knowing you have hired someone you can TRUST to do the job right.  

 

Requesting proof of insurance is one of the first steps in searching for a quality and Trusted Regina contractor.  

Are they Insured ? Any good contractor should carry liability and worker’s compensation Insurance this is something you should always require a contractor to have.

Contractor Liability Insurance

This will protect you if a contractor creates damage to your home, neighboring properties or injury to a third party that may occur during the renovation.  Ask to see a Certificate of Insurance; it should state the name and address of the contractor, the amount of general liability, including coverage for bodily injury and property damage, and the effective and expiry dates of the policy as well as the date of issue of the certificate.  Once you know the contractors liability coverage take it to your Insurance provider to ensure you are fully covered during the renovation as a renovation may require you to increase your coverage for a period of time.   

Workers Compensation

Except for single-person companies, Contractors are required by law to pay WCB premiums on behalf of their employees in the event of a workplace injury. Hiring a contractor that is not in compliance makes YOU the homeowner the project manager and liable for ANY injuries occurred during the renovation. Request a letter of good standing to ensure their premiums are paid up.  

Ask for references 

When anyone applies for a job they are required to provide references.  Why should a contractor be any different!  At Trusted we ask for so many references it's borderline obscene... it is A LOT and we call them all!. We don't anticipate you calling the number we do but we do think it is always a good idea to request references and that you call them.  Typed references or letters of recommendation are ok but a voice and a person are always best. 

There are two types of references you should request.

Client References:

Gaining a list of people who have used there service is extremely helpful and an indication of the amount of jobs they have done.  Asking if they did a good job is not always a good indication of the quality of their work and dedication to customer service.  Dig deeper. here are some suggested questions. - How did you find the contractor? how many jobs have they done for you?  Would you hire them again?  Would you recommend them to a family member? Did they finish the job on time?  Did they charge you the price quoted?  We have the 5 Trusted Guarantees and all of our contractors have to uphold them these are only some of the questions we ask. 

Supplier references

Though not always foolproof, supplier references are very important and help give some insight as to weather or not the contractor pays it's suppliers on time.  Which may in turn help you protect yourself from creditor liabilities.  Builders lien's are something you should know about and try to avoid!.  Here is a great article on how to avoid a builders lien.  

Check their online rating and memberships 

Another way to check and see if a contractor is worth hiring it to check sources like Trusted Regina to see if they have been put through a process of ensuring that they are who they claim to be. This is also are a very strong indicator of a company's commitment to professionalism. You should also search to see if any complaints have been made about them online and how they dealt with those complaints.  From time to time mistakes can happen.  But it is how a company deals with those mistakes that can show a great deal about how they would deal with you.  

Experience, education and certification 

Trade licencing requirements 

A contractor should easily be able to tell you how long they have been in business and have a valid business licence.  Beyond that there are other things you should ask.  Depending on the type of work you want done there are licencing requirements for different trades in Saskatchewan.  Ensuring that each trade has the proper licencing can prevent major issues down the line.  In Saskatchewan there are four compulsory apprenticeship trades. Electrician, Plumber, Refrigeration Mechanic and Sheet Metal Worker. To work in a compulsory apprenticeship trade you must have a journey person certificate or be registered as an apprentice with the SATCC. If one of the trades your contractor has working on your project claims to be a professional in this area ask for their certification. 

Ask for Examples of their work

Most contractors have tons of images of work they have done in the past.  See examples of their work can give you a good indication of the type of work they can do.  We do caution you however that sometimes that though they may be very lovely images you can't always be sure of the quality of the underlying work!

More info...

We hope this article helps you find the right contractor for your renovation project. We always hope you choose one of our Trusted Regina Contractors for any of your projects.   

If you are looking for more information about hiring a contractor we have several other articles that can help steer you in the right direction.




Trusted Regina Home design professionals share a local news story

Regina couple preserving a peice of city history:

An old carriage house that is currently in the process of being repaired by Regina couple Joe Michel and Tammy Kwan in Regina on August 19, 2015. Joe Michel is shown in the photo. The carriage house has been lifted as a new foundation is being built for it.

 

 

Tucked behind Regina’s busiest street, lies a remnant of a bygone era commonly characterized by horse-drawn carriages.

In the back alley of the 2900 block of Albert Street is perhaps the last remaining carriage house in the city.

The regal old building, now sitting high atop wooden planks, it is ready for its new lease on life.

Joe Michel and his partner Tammy Kwan are in the first stage of restoring and repurposing the old building.

“It was built about 1911, the same time as the house and it was a genuine carriage house designed for the horse and carriages at the time,” said Michel.

The green and brick-coloured building complement the much larger main house. The white trimmed doors and windows provide a faint hint of the home’s former country life.

A small, wooden door in a corner of the carriage house was once used as an entryway for chickens.

Rather than a double-car garage, it has double carriage doors while a hayloft doors flank the ends of the building.

Michel purchased the property three decades ago, but for years the old structure sat dormant.

Two years ago, the couple decided to do something with the building, but were unsure of where to start.

“It’s basically all original because very little has been done to it since it was built,” said Michel.

The only options were to restore it or tear it down.

Erecting something new, was just not feasible because a modern building would clash with the classic look of the main house, which they love.

In 1911, it was a state-of-the-art carriage house.

Unfortunately, it was built at a time when that technology was being phased out.

The couple received a lead on someone who could help them with the monumental task at hand.

But first, it needed to be stabilized.

As soon as the house was lifted, the sloped roof corrected itself, which was a pleasant surprise, said Michel.

The house will soon be repositioned and placed on a new foundation. A new roof, windows and doors will complete this year’s work.

Next year, the focus will be on the interior.

Kwan said she wants a private little getaway while still staying at home to read, relax and exercise.

“Like a little cottage in the woods,” she said.

Both are excited about the project and so is the rest of the neighbourhood as evidenced by the many observers drawn to the work.


Trusted Regina shares the benefits of working with a qualified licensed builder

Benefits of working with a qualified licensed builder:

 

 

There are many benefits of working with a qualified, licensed builder when building a new home. It’s safe to say that building a new home – possibly one of the biggest investments you’ll make in your life – is one place that you want to be very careful about cutting corners.

It’s true that the economic downturn has caused just about everyone to look for ways to save money. Whether it’s haggling for the best deal or even coupon clipping, there may be ways to save money with anything you buy.

But what if you are planning to build a home? Should you just go for the best price, even if it involves you building the home yourself as an “owner-builder” or using an unlicensed contractor to run the job? Even though many people are shocked by the estimated costs for constructing a new home, using an unlicensed contractor or taking on the role of an owner-builder just because it’s the “best price” can prove to be both challenging and costly for the owner.

Licensing rules and requirements vary by province, and primarily are designed to protect consumers. In many provinces contractors must prove that they are qualified to do the work and even may undergo testing, fingerprinting, financial bonding requirements and criminal background checks before they are able to be licensed. Provinces vary as to the extent that general contractors must be licensed, and sometimes licenses only are required for certain specialty trades like electricians and plumbers. Many people debate the value of a license in provinces with lax (or no) enforcement and low standards, and in some places can rightfully claim that the license basically is a tax.

However, when licensing is a requirement in your province, working with a licensed builder at least can give you some peace of mind by knowing that the builder has been vetted to meet your provinces’s requirements and is serious about both its profession and its public image. In addition, hiring a licensed contractor sometimes may provide additional protection for you that is not available to those who use an unlicensed contractor. For example, in some provinces a home owner may file a complaint against their contractor’s license if they have a claim about their home or the consumer may even be eligible to apply for money from a recovery fund that can help them have work corrected or their home completed.

On the other hand, there are an infinite number of stories about the nightmares of unlicensed “illegal” contractors that fail to build a home properly and just disappear after being paid a down payment. You should ask yourself: Why is this contractor not licensed if it is required in your province? It certainly could be a problem if the builder lost his license for bad acts or otherwise is just willing to skirt legal requirements while building your home.

The wall sitting on the top of the ICG foundation is not straight. From the back corner forward, the wall changes positions.

In addition, being an owner-builder or using an unlicensed contractor can shift much of the responsibility and risk to you as the owner. Indeed you may be sued and personally liable if proper insurance is not in place and there is an accident on the job, and you likely will be taking on a larger role in managing the overall job.

So if you are considering being an owner-builder or saving money by hiring an illegal contractor, think again. Here are some of the benefits that you can expect from having a general contractor (and make it one with a proper license, when required) to supervise the entire project and build your home for you:

  1. A general contractor will contract with, manage, coordinate and supervise a project that involves multiple trades as subcontractors (and can do so when properly licensed; in some plaaces, it is illegal for the builder to contract with you and subcontractors for the job unless licensed);
  2. Working with a general contractor can save you time, as the job can be handled more efficiently and by someone experienced with construction schedules and awareness of the project’s “critical path” needs;
  3. An experienced general contractor will have a network of connections that benefit you – whether they are the best subcontractors for the task, or knowing how to reach the inspector quickly so you can keep the project moving;
  4. You likely will see cost savings with a builder evaluating multiple bids from subcontractors and getting the benefit of discounted contractor rates with suppliers;
  5. A good, licensed builder is experienced with processing permits and inspections (and a license typically is required for the builder to pull permits in its name), and will know up front what needs to be done to meet code requirements;
  6. You usually get better construction loan terms and options from banks if you are working with a licensed general contractor;
  7. A licensed builder should carry all the insurance coverage needed (you still should confirm first for any builder), and will manage insurance coverage by subcontractors too; this means that the builder, not you, will be considered responsible for the risks and liabilities associated with the job;
  8. A licensed builder can provide a contractual warranty to you for the home and its integrity; plus, commercial home warranty companies typically only provide coverage when the home is built by a licensed builder;
  9. In general, a quality home built by an experienced contractor should need less maintenance and fewer repairs during its lifetime; a quality home has better resale value and is likely to hold its value longer.

The wall is hanging off the ICF foundation.

Chances are, hiring an experienced general contractor that is properly licensed can save you a lot of headaches, time and money when building your new home. However, like any licensed profession (whether it’s doctors, lawyers or builders), a license alone does not mean that they will do a quality job and be good at what they do. As we’ve described before there are many things to evaluate when hiring a builder, so you still should do your research, check references and make sure you have seen some of their finished projects in person.

 


Trustedregina.com Talk to the Experts- The Trusted Regina Real Estate Show

www.trustedregina.com is THE Regina Directory and is thrilled to be hosting a Talk to the Experts show " The Trusted Show' Monthly on Newstalk 980  Find them all here in our tips library or on our Trusted Channel on You Tube which is a fabulous resource of Tips , Interviews, Demos and Tours.

Listen to all the shows ON DEMAND, you can share them with friends who may be interested in the shows subjects and this makes sure you never have to miss a Trusted Show - www.trustedregina.com   is the Ony Local Directory that works for you...and the only  place to offer this kind of service in Regina !  

This latest show we are featuring is the TRUSTED Regina Directory Real Estate Show

All of the questions on the show have been submitted by our wonderful Trusted Regina Facebook Fans  and one lucky fans question was chosen by Sean Dean to win the Prize package submitted by the Trusted Businesses 

This months Trusted Partners are :

* Mark from Two Small Men With Big Hearts- Trusted Regina Movers are giving a $100 Gift Certificate

* Emerald Park Homes - Trusted Regina Home builder - prize is a Golf Package for 2 at Aspen links golf course.

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