Three Tips For Hiring a Great Renovation Contractor

A young woman and an older woman sit together on a couch, smiling and looking at a laptop screen in a bright, comfortable living room.

Three Tips For Hiring a Great Renovation Contractor Home renovations can be one of the biggest single expenses most people ever take on, and the success of your project depends a lot on the contractor you choose. The crazy thing is, people often put more thought into selecting a shirt than into finding a contractor…

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Should You Do It Yourself?

A person sits on a gray couch with bare feet up on an ottoman, using a laptop that obscures their face. Pillows and framed art are visible in the background.

Should You Do It Yourself? Planning a DIY renovation project? Here are some questions to ask yourself first.   Do you have the skills? Many of today’s home improvement products make it easy for do-it-yourselfers, but other projects require specialized skills. Seeing something done on a television renovation show isn’t the same as having practical experience. Getting…

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How to make changes once a renovation begins

Modern white kitchen with marble countertops, stainless steel appliances, a stovetop with pots, a double oven, and four white barstools at a large island. Fresh vegetables and kitchen items are on the counters.

How to make changes once a renovation begins Your dream renovation is underway. You found the right contractor, checked their references, agreed on the plans and schedule, and most importantly, signed a contract that includes a warranty. But you’ve just found the perfect lighting fixture or floor tile, and it’s different than what’s in your contract. Or you’ve opened up…

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Everything you need to know before hiring a contractor

Modern kitchen with a wooden island countertop, vases of flowers, a fruit bowl, stainless steel appliances, open shelves with dishes, and a mixer on a white counter.

Everything you need to know before hiring a contractor Before hiring a contractor for your home renovation or repair project, here are some important questions you need to answer. Remember that professional contractors can provide clear answers to your questions. If they can’t, they’re not the right contractor for you.   Before hiring a contractor,…

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How to avoid common bathroom renovation mistakes

Bright, modern bathroom with a freestanding tub under a large window, double sinks, glass shower, potted plant, wicker basket, and a pouf on a patterned rug. White and marble surfaces create a clean, airy feel.

How to avoid common bathroom renovation mistakes   If you’re planning on updating your bathroom or are currently undergoing a bathroom renovation, remember that achieving a great space isn’t just about choosing great tiles, cabinets and fixtures. Real renovation success depends on getting the hidden technical details right behind the scenes. Take the exhaust fan,…

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Tips for creating a cozy finished basement

A modern home theater room with a large gray sectional sofa, a projector screen on a wood accent wall, a fireplace, speakers, a gray area rug, and dark wood floors. Decorative items are on the ottoman and shelves.

Tips for creating a cozy finished basement A warm, comfortable, and cozy finished basement is a great feature that adds value to your home. It’s summer now, but soon the cooler weather will be here. Is your basement ready for the change in seasons? If you’re in a new house and planning on finishing your…

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How to choose the right home renovation contractor

A construction worker wearing a hard hat and holding blueprints shakes hands with another person, symbolizing agreement or partnership at a worksite.

How to choose the right home renovation contractor Finding the right renovation contractor for your home renovation project is a little bit like dating. The first step is looking for prospective contractors before choosing ‘the one’ you’d like to get to know a little better. Here’s what you need to know to find and interview…

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The Risks of a ‘Cash Deal’ Home Renovation

A person holds an open wallet containing several Canadian banknotes in various denominations, viewed from above against a light-colored wooden floor background.

The Risks of a ‘Cash Deal’ Home Renovation As the old adage goes, ‘your home is your castle’, and many of us enjoy spending time and money making our homes an enjoyable place to live, play and work. We all want to save money where we can. When you’re looking at updating your kitchen or…

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Do I need a building permit for my home renovation?

A person in a red shirt stands in a room under renovation, looking at exposed wall studs and lath. A ladder and construction debris are visible, with light coming in through nearby windows.

Do I need a building permit for my home renovation? You dream of removing a wall in your kitchen to redesign a beautiful room with space for cooking and entertaining, but do you need a building permit? Your living room gets dark in the afternoon so you’re considering hiring a contractor to add another window,…

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Home renovations: Should I hire a pro or DIY?

Two people shake hands over architectural blueprints on a table, discussing home renovations, with a yellow hard hat, a small model house, a pen, a plant, and a laptop nearby—raising the important question: should I hire a pro or DIY?.

Home renovations: Should I hire a pro or DIY? It might be a bigger bathroom or a finished basement – whichever room you’re looking to change, a renovation can be a big project. If you’re considering whether it’s easier to do it yourself (DIY) or to hire a home renovation pro, get informed before you…

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