Consumer Protection Tips for Home Renovations

Monday, August 28, 2017

If you are hiring a company to renovate your home, follow these tips:

Research the company well. Ask to see the business’s contract and credentials before you hire them and check the Consumer Beware List to see if there are any recent charges or complaints against the business.
Get multiple quotes. Research several companies before hiring one. Be careful of companies that have significantly lower prices than others.
Take your time. Give yourself enough time to consider an offer. Once you hire a business, never pay the full amount for the work up-front, only give a deposit.
Get a written contract. Be sure to get a written contract that explains exactly what the business is required to do. In most cases, this will give you protections under the Consumer Protection Act, including a cooling off period when you can cancel the contract. If you make payments in cash, make sure to get a receipt.

You can find more information on hiring a contractor and signing or cancelling a contract from Consumer Protection Ontario. Settlement.Org also has many articles on consumer protection topics.

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