Toronto Renovations Don’ts

I think these are probably more important then the do’s are. Toronto renovations are very complicated and the are lots of variables that have to be accounted for from the beginning, in order to give you any chance of success. Above all never attempt to do anything on your home with out dealing with a professional. I have seen some real horror stories of homes being destroyed and families left in financial ruin, all because the person doing the work wasn’t a pro. 

• Never go at  Toronto renovations alone

This obviously falls into the always hire a professional statement also. We live in a time of home shows and magazines. Showing everything from a bathroom reno in 30mins to a full home in an hour. What you don’t see is the army of people behind the scenes that make it all happen. All renovation work requires a good team of people in order to break the work down into the required skill sets. When I started in this business I always heard word of there was a guy that worked for virtually nothing an hour and was great at everything. Let me be the first to tell you he or she does not exist. Although you can become proficient in more the one trade, be very careful with the person that tells you he can do it all. 

• Cheapest price is never the best deal

Toronto renovations contractors should not be selected the same way you buy something from Costco or Walmart. A service is not a product and what your buying at the beginning is not just the price. Always get some comparison bids but keep in mind if someone is far below the rest, odds are they don’t know what they are up against. Too many times I have seen families pick the cheapest guy and get hosed for all kinds of things once the home was under construction. You must trust the person implicitly and know he or she has your home and your best interests at heart. You are buying a process not just a product, find the one that can answer all of your questions and is confident on how to get the job done.

• Never renovate with out a plan

A plan is the only thing you have to save you from the pitfalls that plague most every home renovation project. That plan starts with an honest look at what needs to be done on your home and not just what you want to do. Kitchens and bathrooms are get and additions are fun but if you don’t deal with the home as a whole, you run the risk of having to undo what you paid to do. Unless you live in a home built in the last 40 years or so, that was built with modern construction techniques. You probably need to address a whole slue of issues like insulation, plumbing, electrical and structure. These things are the most important to address because fixing them protects your investment in the rest of your home. Before you put any money into make the front of your walls beautiful, always make sure you have a plan on how you will deal with what is behind them also.