Build up a plan for a smart renovation

Canadians love to renovate. A recent survey by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation found that 40 percent of households in ten Canadian markets renovated their home in 2008. The same survey found that about three quarters of households used a contractor to do all, or at least some, of their renovations.

Everyone has heard a construction/contractor horror story, either through a friend, family member or on a home improvement television program. Whether it is work not performed to code or customer specifications, projects taking longer than expected, or costs going way over budget, home renovations can be a stressful endeavour.

“Spending thousands of dollars on your home is a big decision, so selecting the right contractor is an important step,” said Wayne Ross, insurance expert at Aviva Canada. “And while stories of renovation headaches are frequent, there are thousands of reputable contractors out there. A little preparation before hand will certainly ease the stress.” (more…)