How to hire the right contractor with TexNov
I’ve often said that finding a contractor is like playing the dating game. It can take a long time to find the perfect match – sometimes as long as it takes to complete the project! But believe me, the time spent finding the RIGHT contractor is worth it.
Choosing your contractor is the most important factor in ensuring that the repair work is completed according to our expectations. Read this article for some handy tips. Remember, the preparation of any project is the guarantee of success!
Once the decision to make changes to the house is made, a crucial choice must be made: that of the contractor who will carry out the work.
Find out how to choose a construction contractor with TexNov.
At TexNov, we are aware of the complexity of choosing it and the importance of protecting your back; to guide you, we have listed the main points to retain to find your next contractor.
1. BUILD A LIST OF TRUSTED CONTRACTORS!
To choose a construction contractor, the first step is to build a list of available choices.
Yes, everyone will do a quick Google search to find a contractor, but please do your research! Don’t just rely on Google – you want to talk to contractors and get their referrals. Be sure to call their references!
Where to look for the right information?
In Quebec, specialized resources are also available on the Internet, such as:
- the website of the Association of Construction and Housing Professionals of Quebec (APCHQ)
- The Construction411 portal
- The Yellow Pages Categorized Directory
- The Constructo portal
- The Quebec Building Authority
(For other Canadian provinces, please consult the available local portals).
TexNov customer service
If you’ve done some research, or are still not sure where to start or who to talk to, I suggest you contact the TexNov customer service team. They will listen to your needs and create a list of supplier experts who will help you make the perfect selections and plan for all your needs.
TexNov is the leader in the manufacture of acrylic coatings, but its services expand to find you a contractor for your residential, industrial and institutional projects. For TexNov, each project is important!
This is why TexNov likes the concept of offering complete customer service. They have created a network of home improvement specialists, from renovators to acrylic plaster specialists, home design specialists, architects – all under the same spirit of caring for customers.
With guidance from their customer service team, they will design a personalized shopping experience that is unique and tailored to your needs – no time will be wasted on unnecessary appointments.
An important step in choosing your contractor is to get good information from others who, like you, needed it.
2. THERE ARE NOT TOO MANY QUESTIONS!
When looking for references from your listed contractors, you can’t ask too many questions. Ask to see their finished work. If possible, go see him in person. Find out if they were on time and on budget.
Sample questions:
- Do they have the right insurance?
- Has the contractor worked with them more than once?
- Did they keep you informed every step of the way?
- Did they answer all your questions?
- Did they provide a written quote with payment options, terms, and warranty?
Another good question to ask is how they left the job site at the end of the day – did they clean up? Have they put away their tools? I firmly believe in leaving a clean, litter-free job site every day.
Contractors must respect the home owner and his home. A messy workplace is not a good job site. In one of the episodes of Holmes and Holmes , a landlord had a terrible experience with a contractor. He put tools on their bed, used their laundry basket as a trash can, and left a mess behind.
Prepare your project with the help of an architect
Homeowners can never ask too many questions and this reflects their commitment and interest in their home. TexNov’s customer service team and home improvement experts will answer all your questions and concerns for projects involving the installation of acrylic coatings to prepare, repair, beautify and protect your home.
But if your project is getting bigger, and you feel you need professional guidance, doing business with an architect could make your success easier.
TexNov offers turnkey solutions for architects and home designers. Complete exterior enveloppe systems (EIFS) adapt to any job site and any construction. Request the installation of StefNov systems for increased results in protecting and finishing your home.
They will do the groundwork to connect you with the right professional practices for your next job.
The importance of asking questions is to try to find out as much as possible about the potential contractor’s experience, specializations, attention to detail, deadlines, insurance coverage, etc. The Get it in Writing! site, set up by the Canadian Home Builders’ Association , offers a series of questions to ask contractors. Do not hesitate to refer to it for inspiration in your search for a contractor.
Before entering into a binding contract, make sure you get a detailed estimate, this keeps everyone on the same page!
It’s smart and strongly advised for homeowners to ask lots of questions when looking for the right contractor for the job!
Ask questions about former clients
Do not hesitate to ask for references from the contractor. The most important thing, recalls the Consumer Protection Office for quality in construction, is to check them. Call other customers to find out how their experience was. Ask to visit the site or see photos of the work to make sure it lives up to your expectations.
Ask questions of the Registrar of Companies
The Quebec business register lets you know if the business you have chosen is indeed registered, a requirement for doing business in Quebec. To find out more, here is their website registerentreprises.gouv.qc.ca
3. TAKE “FREE ESTIMATES” WITH CAUTION
Most good general contractors will charge for a detailed estimate, and they should, because it takes them a long time to do a site visit, materials, and cost calculations.
It’s common to be offered free quotes, but free doesn’t mean quality. Finding your contractor is a difficult task, even more so in the Covid period.
Depending on the scope of work, consider spending between 200$ and 400$ for an estimate. If the work is green-lit, common practice will be for the contractor to deduct that cost from the final invoice. Of course, contractors can also provide a verbal estimation, but before you enter into a binding contract, it’s a good idea to make sure you get a detailed estimate, as this allows everyone to establish common goals.
Having a detailed work scope will help keep everyone on the same page – discussing contracts with a professional should be an easy task.
4. DOWN PAYMENT
The Consumer Protection Office recalls that the law does not specify how much the down payment should be. Every contractor has their own invoicing policy, validate it before starting the work.
How much to give in advance?
Asking for a deposit from landlords before renovations have even started is common practice in the home renovation and new construction industry.
In general, a deposit is around 15% of the cost of the renovation project. This first payment fulfills two main functions for a general contractor:
1. To confirm your intention
Contractors have been very busy lately and accepting your renovation project usually means refusing another renovation project that pays just as much, if not more.
2. Purchase of materials
The deposit allows the general contractor to buy your materials up front: in general, contractors avoid advancing the capital for the purchase of materials, because they are often short on their working capital. Advance funds for the purchase of materials also carries the financial risk for a general contractor of not being reimbursed if the client decides to cancel the renovation project along the way.
5. GETTING A WRITTEN CONTRACT
No matter the size of the job to be done, you need a contract that clearly outlines the project, tasks, schedule and cost of the job.
We also recommend spelling out certain terms – like when and what the contractor will do within a specific time frame – this helps keep communication open and provides expectations for both the contractor and the owner.
The contract should also state the total amount and a payment schedule – remember a deposit of up to 20% to secure the work, and the balance of payments should be tied to specific milestones, not time. Once the deposit has been paid, the balance of the charges must be associated with the work carried out. The most common steps are preparing damaged surfaces, laying new hardware, and visiting the final site after completion, but always be sure to retain 10% to be paid once the work is complete and all everyone is satisfied.
Which model of contract to use?
The Régie du bâtiment du Québec offers a model contract adapted to residential renovations at a fixed price.
This model contract includes the identification of the parts, the description of the work scope, the schedule and the costs among others.
Please click on the following image to download a free home improvement contract template.
fixed-price-residential-renovation-contract-model
6. ASK ABOUT PERMITS
We believe it is good practice to always remind owners that as owners it is your responsibility to ensure that the correct permits have been applied for.
Permits for renovations (including demolitions, insulation and finishing), are all required by municipal regulations. If there are structural changes, stamped technical or architectural plans must be submitted and approved by the local building authority.
We always advise you to double check with their local building authority department to determine if you need any specific permits for the work. It is the owner’s responsibility to ensure that permits have been issued for their property, not the contractor. Therefore, before any work begins, confirm with your city or town to ensure permits are required. Remember that permits help ensure that the work is done correctly and meets local building codes – they protect the homeowner.
Where to apply for the work permit?
The cost of a residence renovation permit depends on the city where you are located and the extent of the work you plan to do. To give you an idea of the cost, the price of a renovation permit in the borough of Ville-Marie, in Montreal, is $9.80 per $1,000 of work, for a minimum cost of $140 (tariff 2020).
Please visit the following link for details.
As the owner, it is your responsibility to ensure that the appropriate permits have been requested. Your contract may state that your contractor will be responsible for getting them – but ultimately it’s your home that’s at stake if they haven’t.
Other Considerations
There are a lot of things to consider when embarking on a home improvement project – don’t forget to do your homework and if you’re feeling overwhelmed or in need of inspiration, your next call should be to TexNov for any project involving repairs to your home’s stucco, brick, concrete, damaged foundations or balcony floors or even damaged paved driveways. The customer service team and home improvement experts will create a unique personalized shopping experience that introduces you to the right people to talk to and the best performing, long-lasting product solutions.
7. MAKE USAGE VERIFICATIONS
The Régie du bâtiment provides a list of licensed contractors. Use it to find your next contractor.
Building contractors in the province must be licensed by the Régie du bâtiment du Québec. A contractor’s compliance can be checked in the register of license holders on the RBQ website.
8. VERIFY THE EXISTENCE OF A LIABILITY INSURANCE
If the contractor is insured, you will be better protected in the event of damage to your property, that of a neighbour, or even to someone who is the victim of an accident.
In addition, builder’s risk is a type of property insurance, builder’s risk covers labor, equipment and materials provided by the owner and contractors during the construction project. construction.
This insurance coverage becomes especially important as the project progresses: materials and labor hours will accumulate, and more equipment will be stored on the job site, which means there is more to lose.
For work done by yourself, here is the advice of the CAA
9. CONTACT TEXNOV
TexNov offers you a complete service, from choosing the color and texture of your home’s exterior siding to helping you find a contractor in your area.
First step : Call 1 877 316-6388 to make an appointment either at the main offices in Sherbrooke or at the Montreal / North Shore offices in Laval.
Second step: A member of the customer service team will ask you a series of questions regarding your project and provide you with recommendations and selections from the dealer directory based on your preferences. They will work with you to create your goals and objectives. Once the coordination is complete, you will be contacted by the contractor who will visit the premises to specify his services offered.
Third step: On the day of the contractor’s visit, he will meet you and guide you through the various options for carrying out your work. The color and texture chart will help you choose the finish for your home.
The TexNov customer service team includes its customer service team, its network of representatives and retailers.
All of them work closely with talented experts. This is to introduce you to each of the products, services and upcoming promotions.
All you have to do is call them for an appointment to discuss your project. Have no doubt, TexNov will put you in contact with the right experts to visit. It’s so simple!
10. MAKING THE CHOICE
Present your project and compare the different bids once your selection of contractors is verified.
Describe in writing the work to be done in as much detail as possible. Do not hesitate to take pictures of the places to be repaired.
In the case of a large project, it may be useful to retain the services of an architect, engineer or other building professional to add precision.
With a clear idea of your project, contractors will be able to submit a more accurate bid. With a few quotes in hand, all that remains is to compare them. Do not hesitate to meet with contractors to clarify their commitments and responsibilities.
Why do we believe price is not the only factor?
The price will undoubtedly be essential in your choice, but do not make it the only selection criterion. However, we must remain cautious: it is often a question of the quality of the materials and the skill of the workers. It is not uncommon for specially affordable bids to turn out to be unrealistic, paving the way for “extras” during the work.
Other factors should also be considered:
- Start date of work.
- Works duration.
- Penalty of the contractor in the event of delay.
- Site safety.
Choosing a construction contractor with TexNov is easier than you think!
So don’t wait any longer and let’s build something great together!
TexNov has been manufacturing acrylic coatings since 1989; years of experience and successful projects have made it possible to build a network of partners among knowledgeable entrepreneurs.
Choose TexNov for comfortable homes in durable environments.
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Disclaimer: This article was written with the aim of informing and maintaining our relationship with customers. The company takes no responsibility for any work done without professional supervision. Any work either repair or new construction must be covered by your contractor’s insurance. TexNov is not responsible for services offered by third parties. We encourage articles 1457 and 1458 of the Civil Code of Quebec. Your best ally is your family contractor.
Sources:
We consulted several reliable sources of information for the elaboration of this text. Here are a few:
https://www.lapresse.ca/maison/immobilier/conseils/201501/19/01-4836494-comment-choisir-le-bon-entrepreneur.php
https://improvecanada.com/blog/my-best-tips-on-how-to-hire-a-contractor/
https://acqc.ca/fr/choisir-un-entrepreneur
https://www.opc.gouv.qc.ca/consommateur/bien-service/habitation-renovation/renovation/conseils/entrepreneur/choisir-entrepreneur/
https://soumissionrenovation.ca/