Check Out Trade Association Membership and Other Regulatory Compliance Requirement

01

Confirm whether the company is involved with any associations such as the Canadian Home Builders, Better Business Bureau, and other regulatory compliance requirement like TSSA or ESA.

All are good indications of professionalism and commitment to a higher standard.

Confirm the company is professionally operated!

02

The contractor should have a GST number and you can verify it by hitting this link.

The GST/HST Registry lets you validate the GST/HST number of a business, which helps to ensure that claims submitted for input tax credits only include GST/HST charged by suppliers who are registered for GST/HST.

Search the Consumer Beware List

03

Check a business track record before dealing with them by searching Ontario's Consumer Beware List or reading recent convictions and compliance notices.

Click Link here.

Filing a Consumer Complaint

04

To file a consumer complaint with the Ministry of Government and Consumer Services:

  1. Check the consumer protection laws
  2. Write a complaint letter to the business
  3. Submit your complaint to the ministry

Before you sign a contract for home renovations or repairs, make sure you:

05

Keep down-payments to a minimum (we recommend no more than 10%)

Never pay the full amount of the contract before the work is done.

This will help ensure that the contractor will finish the job. It will also protect you from losing money if the company goes out of business or declares bankruptcy before finishing your project.

Click Link here.

Signing a contract for home renovations

06

Check warranties and guarantees carefully and that they are written down on your contract or invoice.

Under Ontario law, any home renovation contract worth more than $50 must be in writing. Be prepared to pay for any extra materials or any work that are not in the contract. If something isn't written in your contract, you may not get it.

Once you select a contractor, make sure they include the estimate as part of your contract. This way, the contractor cannot charge you more than 10% above the estimated cost

Click Link here.

Make sure your contract includes:

07

The contractor's name, address and contact information.

A thorough description of the project with details of the work to be done and the materials to be used.

A clear description of any warranties

The total cost and terms of payment

A work schedule, including start and completion dates.

A payment schedule, including the deposit amount.

Who is responsible for clean up after the job is finished.

All sub-trades that will be contracted out and who will pay for those sub-trades.

Click Link here.

Signing a contract in your home

08

If you sign a home renovation or repair contract worth $50 or more in your home.

You have the right to a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period.

You may cancel this contract for any reason and without having to pay any cancellation fees within these 10 days.

Click here for more information.

You have the right to a 10 calendar-day cooling-off period.

09

However, if you hire a contractor and the work was started during the cooling-off period, you can cancel the contract but you will be responsible for reasonable compensation for work and materials that the contractor has provided.

Click here for more information.