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Why Asking the Right Questions to Contractor Can Save You Thousands?

Hiring a contractor for your home renovation is a big decision. Whether you're planning a kitchen remodel, basement renovation, or bathroom upgrade, choosing the wrong contractor can lead to:

Unexpected costs mid-project
Unfinished work or poor craftsmanship
Significant delays that drag on for months

But here’s the thing — most homeowners only ask for a price quote and never dig deeper. This is where costly oversights often occur.

To protect your renovation investment, you need to ask the right questions before hiring any contractor. This ensures that you’re getting fair pricing, realistic timelines, high-quality workmanship and no hidden fees.

“I’ve seen this way too often…

Homeowners get super excited about their renovation. They find a contractor, get a quote, and think: ‘This guy seems legit, let’s do it!’ And then?

Weeks of delays.
Unexpected costs halfway through.
A messy job site with no clear direction.
And worst of all? The contractor suddenly stopped answering calls.

Sound familiar?
To avoid this nightmare, you need to ask the right questions BEFORE hiring a contractor. Because a polished sales pitch doesn’t guarantee a smooth renovation. Here’s EXACTLY what to ask your contractor before you hire them—so you don’t get burned later.

Question #1: Do You Have Liability Insurance & WSIB Coverage?

This is the FIRST thing you should ask.

A licensed contractor must follow city regulations, building codes, and permit guidelines. Without a license, your project is already a legal risk.

Why this matters: Renovations involve risks—damage to property, worker injuries, or unforeseen accidents. A professional contractor should carry liability insurance to protect your home and WSIB (Workplace Safety & Insurance Board) coverage to protect workers.

What to ask:

Can you provide proof of general liability insurance?
Are all workers covered under WSIB?
What happens if a worker gets injured on my property?

Red flag answer:

“We’ve never had issues, so we don’t carry insurance.”
“You don’t need to worry about that.”

Question #2: How Many Projects Like Mine Have You Completed in the Last 3 Years?

Some will tell you, ‘Oh yeah, we do basements, kitchens, everything!’ But when you ask, ‘How many projects like mine have you ACTUALLY completed?’ they hesitate.

Why does this matter?
Because if they’ve only done two basement renovations but claim to be ‘experts,’ that’s a red flag.

Question #3: How Do You Handle Renovation Project Delays or Unexpected Issues?

Why It’s Important: Delays happen due to weather, material shortages, or unforeseen structural issues. A professional contractor should have a change order plan to minimize downtime and communicate transparently.

What to Ask: “If there’s a delay, how do you handle it? Will I get a revised timeline and regular updates?”

Red Flag: If they say “We’ll figure it out” or don’t provide a structured plan for delays.

Question #4: Who Will Actually Do The Work? Subcontractors or Employees?

This is a BIG one — and no one talks about it.

Ask the contractor: ‘Who will actually be on site doing the work? If they say ‘Subcontractors, ’ that’s fine — but then ask:

Will a Foreman or Project Manager be present daily?
Who’s responsible for quality control?

Why does this matter?
Because if there’s no foreman or manager on-site, you’re essentially trusting random subcontractors to handle your $50K- $100K project.

Question #5: Can the Cost of Our Renovation Change During Renovation?

This is where most homeowners get burned.

Ask your contractor the following:
‘Is there any chance my quote will increase during construction?’

A reputable contractor will be transparent and say:

Yes, only if unforeseen structural issues appear.
Yes — if you request a change in design or materials.
But otherwise — no unexpected price hikes.

If they give you a vague answer like “We’ll figure it out as we go,” run.

Question #6: Who Purchases and Warrants All Materials?

This is where unexpected costs creep in.

Ask your contractor:
‘Are YOU responsible for purchasing, delivering, and warranting all materials?’
OR
‘Am I expected to buy and supply my own materials?’

Why does this matter?

If the contractor handles materials, they must guarantee them.
If you’re forced to purchase materials, you’re now exposed to delivery delays, defects, and warranty issues.

A reputable contractor will always say:
“We handle everything — and guarantee all materials we install.”

Question #7: Will You Handle All Permits and Inspections, or Is That On Us?

Why Ask This?
Some contractors leave the responsibility of applying for permits and scheduling inspections to homeowners, which is a red flag. A professional contractor should handle:

Building permits
Inspections with city officials
Final occupancy approvals

What You Want to Hear:
“We handle all permits and inspections from start to finish, ensuring everything is up to code.”

Red Flag Answer:
“You’ll need to handle the permits yourself.”
“We don’t usually deal with permits.”

Question #8: How Many Projects Do You Handle at Once?

“This is a major red flag homeowners miss.”

Ask: “How many other renovation projects are you handling while working on mine?”

Why does this matter?

If they’re running 4-5 projects simultaneously, your project may get neglected.
You’ll experience delays, a lack of updates, and half-finished work.

A reputable contractor will say:
“We cap our projects to ensure focus and efficiency.”

Question #9: Do You Offer Design Services? If So, What Does It Include?

Some contractors only do construction — meaning they’ll build whatever you tell them, but won’t guide you through design choices.

Others offer full design-build services — meaning they’ll help you:
- Plan layouts based on space flow.
- Select materials, colors, and finishes.
- Provide 3D renderings so you can visualize your space.
But here’s the catch: If your contractor doesn’t offer design services, you’ll likely spend weeks trying to pick out materials, paint colors, and layouts on your own — leading to decision fatigue.
Pro Tip:
Ask, “Is the design service included in my quote, or is it a separate fee?”
If they offer 3D renderings or mood boards, that’s a major green flag.

Question #10: At What Point Can You Commit to a Construction Start Date?

This is the #1 cause of delays — and no one asks it upfront.

Here’s What Most Contractors will say (Red Flag):

We’ll know once we finish our current projects.
We’ll figure it out once the materials arrive.
We can’t commit to a firm date until later.

What a Professional Contractor will say (Green Flag):

We’ll lock in your construction start date as soon as the contract is signed.
We’ll give you a realistic timeline based on material availability.
Your project will begin within X days after you accept the quote.

Pro Tip: If the contractor sounds vague or unsure about a start date, that’s a red flag. You’ll likely face months of delays later.

Question #11: What is your payment structure?

Always ask if they require upfront payments or staged payments. Avoid contractors that ask for 50% or more upfront — it's a huge red flag.

What You Want to Hear:

“We require a 10-20% deposit to start, and remaining payments are milestone-based.”
“We provide a clear payment schedule upfront, and there are no hidden fees.”

Why This Matters:

Contractors who ask for large upfront deposits may lack cash flow or reliability.
Staged payments ensure you only pay when work is completed.

Question #12: Tell Us About Your Company’s Renovation Process?

If your contractor doesn’t have a defined process, expect chaos. Ask:“Can you walk us through your renovation process from start to finish?”

Why This Is A Deal Breaker:
If your contractor doesn’t have a step-by-step, structured process, you’re basically signing up for:

Poor communication.
Random work schedules.
No clear handover timeline.
Unfinished projects dragging on.

What should a professional renovation process sound like?

1. Consultation Phase: We meet with you to understand your vision, budget, and timeline.

2. Design Phase: We offer 3D renderings, material selection, and design concepts (if applicable).

3. Quote & Contract: We give you a fixed, clear, and detailed quote.

4. Pre-Construction Prep:

We order all materials in advance to avoid delays.
We confirm a hard construction start date.

5. Construction Phase:

We will monitor the construction site every day, leading the work.
You will receive daily and weekly progress updates from us.

6. Final Walkthrough & Handover: We do a full walkthrough with you to ensure everything is perfect.

Question #13: How Will You Protect My Home & Minimize Disruption?

Why This Matters: Renovations can be messy, noisy, and disruptive—especially if homeowners are living on-site. A good contractor has clear protocols for dust control, protecting flooring, and daily cleanups.

What to Ask:

Will you use dust barriers, floor coverings, and air filtration?
What’s your clean-up process at the end of each workday?
How do you handle noise and work hours, especially if we’re living here?

Red Flag Answer:
“It’s a construction site—expect a mess.”

Question #14: How Will This Renovation Impact My Home’s Value?

Why This Matters: Not all renovations provide a high return on investment (ROI). An experienced and knowledgeable contractor should help homeowners make smart remodeling decisions that boost property value.

What to Ask:

Which renovation choices will add the most resale value to my home?
What’s the expected ROI for this type of remodel in my area?
Have you worked with homeowners who sold their homes post-renovation? What were the results?

Red Flag Answer:
“I just build—value isn’t my concern.”

Why Asking These Questions Can Save You Thousands in Renovation Nightmares?

Here’s the harsh truth most homeowners don’t realize:

Most contractors don’t plan ahead.
Most contractors don’t communicate clear timelines.
Most contractors don’t have a documented scope of work and instead rely on an informal, ad-hoc process.

And that’s exactly why:

Renovation Projects run 2-3 months longer than promised.
Costs escalate as the project progresses.
And you end up with a half-finished, low-quality job.

Before you even get to the stage of asking these questions, it’s important to ensure you’re talking to potentially reliable contractors in the first place. We’ve put together a detailed guide on the steps you can take to choose a contractor you can trust. Doing your homework upfront will save you time and potential headaches down the road.

If you’re planning a renovation and want a clear, predictable, and stress-free renovation experience, write to us for a free consultation.

Let us answer all these questions for you. At Urban RenoProjects, we believe in full transparency — from quotes to project timelines to materials. We’ll gladly answer every single question listed in this post.

Request a FREE quote now and get a clear breakdown of:

Project scope & timelines
Material quality & selection options
Fixed, no-surprise pricing

Click here to Get Your Free Quote

Or, if you’re still comparing contractor quotes, send us your current quote — we’ll review it for free and let you know if there’s anything you should be cautious about.

- Published by Falguni Patel