With the spring/summer building and renovating season in full swing, it's likely many Olds residents are looking to find a contractor to help them with their big projects.But what are some of the steps people should take when considering a contractor for a building or renovation job?Bryan and Randi Hunter, who have owned and operated Olds' BnR Exteriors Inc. for nine years, said first off, people need to do a little homework.Make sure contractors have Workers Compensation Board accreditation, liability insurance and a good reputation, Bryan said, adding people can look into the reputation part by checking with a prospective contractor's previous customers and contacting the Better Business Bureau.Randi said people can also contact their local municipal office to ensure a contractor has a business licence and when a prospective contractor comes to your home, make sure he or she asks questions about the planned work and doesn't just ask for money.One of the biggest mistakes Bryan said he sees people make when seeking out a contractor is going with the one who offers the cheapest price.“Eighty per cent of the time the contractors that are doing it are nobodies that (customers) are never going to be able to get warranties from again because they're fly-by-nighters, contractors that just go from town to town and don't care about their business,” he said.Customers also need to ask prospective contractors about the length of any warranty they offer for a project and to get a proper quote—not an estimate— for the job and compare quotes with other contractors.When it comes to the issue of deposits for a job, Randi encourages people to also have documentation about the deposit, including signed paperwork indicating the day the deposit was given and the balance owing.Bryan said his company asks for 30 per cent of the cost of a job up front for the company's protection.“If we book a job in and then all of a sudden they cancel, if they left a deposit they're not going to cancel,” he said.But he advises people to never give a deposit of more than 50 per cent of the cost of the job.It's also a good thing to make sure a contractor has an actual place of business, Randi said.If they don't, customers again need to research the reputation of the contractor.“If a company or a guy in a truck shows up at somebody's house, they don't know who they are,” Randi said. “If we just came to your house because you wanted some siding done, you don't know who we are. You don't say, oh, that's BnR Exteriors and they're across from Smitty's. So you have nowhere to go back if you have questions or concerns.”Bryan added contractors are not technically allowed to take a deposit at a customer's home without special bonds and accreditations.Leah Brownridge, a marketing and communications coordinator with the southern Alberta chapter of the Better Business Bureau, agreed that if a contractor charges a deposit, the consumer needs to make sure any exchange of money only takes place in the contractor's office or place of business.“Be extra careful,” she said. “Make sure that you really understand what that deposit is for, is it refundable or not and what happens if you (the consumer) change your mind. Can you get your money back?”Contractors cannot ask for a deposit if they are outside their place of business, Brownridge added.As for advice about finding a “reputable and credible contractor,” she said people can also ask prospective contractors to see examples of their work on other properties, ask for references and customer testimonials and follow up on those references.Consumers can also ask contractors if they are members of associations such as the Homebuilders Association, the Electrical Contractors Association or the Roofing Contractors Association.If they are, Brownridge said, contact the association to verify that membership and make sure the relationship between the association and the contractor is good.Echoing Randi's advice, Brownridge said the bureau encourages consumers to “get everything in writing” including contracts and make sure all areas of a contract are clearly explained such as start and finish dates, what work the contractor will do, payment details and deadlines.If there is a problem, approach the contractor first with concerns.“Hopefully the contractor will be able to resolve any kind of issue like that in good faith with the customer by themselves,” Brownridge said.From there, consumers can file a complaint with the bureau, which offers dispute resolution services and mediation services.If none of these steps work, consumers will have to look to the courts, she added.Brownridge said she is not aware of any current local cases of contractor fraud but if someone comes to your door or calls offering contracting services in an aggressive manner, consumers should consider such behaviour a “red flag.”[email protected]
