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July 2008

This month's featured links:

http://www.yourhome.ca

http://www.localcooling.com - software for controlling air-conditioning inside buildings

http://www.homeinteriorszone.com

How to minimize reno pain Advice from experienced homeowners by: Heather Greenwood Davis

Some tips for those of you heading out into the renovation abyss: Have a Plan: "Before you go anywhere near a contractor, make sure you know what you want," says University of Toronto professor Michael Pharoah. That includes all of the fixtures and fittings that you're going to need.Look beyond the price tag: Neither cheap nor expensive guarantees a good job, says Pharoah. He notes of his experience with Abbotsford Group: "They're probably not the cheapest thing in town but the quality of the work and what Paul Mior (the owner) puts into it is exceptional." Check references: "Check all of the references," warns Margaret Mackay, founder of the Renocontractors database. "Don't think to yourself, `Oh, he's a nice guy.' He might be a lovely guy but not a very good contractor." On the same note you should make sure that he isn't a renovation virgin, she says. "Make sure that whatever he has done, he has done before and do not accept kitchen references if you want him to do your bathroom. He may never have done a bathroom before and you certainly don't want him practising on yours."Hire a professional: Look for someone who takes his or her business seriously. They should have a business registration number and a GST number. "If they're a good contractor they're going to give you an estimate on letterhead with their name, address, GST number and phone number," Mackay says. "If they give it to you on the back of a cigarette package I'd be a little bit wary. "Don't paint yourself into a timeline corner: The best guys are often the toughest to book. Contractor Joe Darragh suggests you start looking for a contractor as much as 12 weeks in advance of when you'd like the work to begin. Also, consider that many are busier in the warmer months. "If you approach me a month from now I'd be booked until the fall," he says. And be prepared for the job to take longer than originally anticipated, Pharoah says. "If they say six months to complete, make sure that you can live in what you're going to have to live in for 12 months."Draw up a budget, then double it: Part of the issue might be a bad quote but Darragh says there is also the unforeseen lurking behind walls and the simple fact that you may change your mind. "I've never seen a project go from drawing to fruition 100 per cent. There are always changes along the way and when a quote is generated, they are basically generated on as-seen conditions. You don't really know what you're getting into 100 per cent until you take down walls and see what's there."