We’ve all heard stories of renovations that looked more like a horror story than a home improvement. To avoid this, Rénovation Bouda suggests very simple actions that will help you in your contractor choice.

First, don’t trust a contractor who attempts to evaluate your project over the phone. It is very important that he comes to your home in order to see the current installations, the particularities of your home, etc. Quoting over the phone prevents the contractor to properly evaluate the job and chances are that he will charge you for extras during renovations due to several unforeseen circumstances.

Once the entrepreneur is in front of you, talk to him: what’s his experience? What are his specializations? Is he insured? What is his workplace safety policies? What are his working methods? What can you expect when it comes to cleaning your home during the construction period? What is his RBQ license number?
Once your questions are answered, inquire about the validity of the RBQ license and make sure it is registered in a relevant category (related to home renovation). You are also allowed to all contractors that have been the subject of a warranty claim. All contractors must pay this bond, which is an amount they must deposit as security for the execution of the work. A claim would mean that the contractor performed improperly or failed to perform the work at all.

Another way to know who you are dealing with is to ask for references on the contractor in question. Do not just accept pictures of accomplishments, but require to be allowed to communicate with former clients. The latter is the best method to ensure a good experience.

Another available option is to get informed with the Consumer Protection Office on the profile of the contractor. This will give you the opportunity to verify the number, and nature, of the complaints made on this contractor over the past two years.