If you are renovating, be sure to work with a professional
With housing prices at an all-time high, many homeowners are choosing to make their existing home their forever home with major renovations and even complete tear-down-and-rebuilds.
If you are thinking of renovating, regardless of the scale of your project, you should work with a professional RenoMark renovator who knows what’s required and what processes need to be followed to ensure your project is done right.
The RenoMark program was started by BILD in 2001so consumers could identify professional renovators and trade contractors. To be part of the program, companies must abide by a renovation-specific code of conduct that includes providing a written contract, carrying applicable licences, obtaining permits and government approvals, as well as having a minimum of $2 million in liability insurance and offering a minimum two-year warranty on all work and more. You can find a RenoMark professional at renomark.ca.
For best results, you should engage a professional renovator early on to help you with planning and to take on the role of general contractor, managing each phase of your renovation.
If you are fortunate enough to have flexibility with your budget and already have a detailed plan or design for your vision, your next step is to go through the bidding process and hire the renovator that will turn your vision into a reality.
If you have a budget in mind that you are comfortable with, you can work with your renovator to determine what can be accomplished within it. Your renovator will help you find a balance between what you want and how much money you have available to spend.
Depending on the size of your project, be prepared for a process that will take some time. First, you will probably need a building permit — the process is complex but your professional renovator is well experienced with what is required.
There are many regulations that need to be followed to ensure modifications are structurally sound and comply with the Ontario Building Code, municipal zoning and other applicable bylaws. As a result, the building permit application and process could take up to 46 weeks or more and that’s prior to starting any of the construction.
The permit process may take longer if you are renovating a property that has been classified as “heritage.” If it’s an older home, it may not confirm to the rules because it may have been built prior to when the regulations were implemented.
A good example is property setback limitations, which identify where a structure can be located on a property and how far from the lot’s boundaries it can be built. Your designer or architect will work with you to build a design that abides by the rules to avoid approval delays.
If you are thinking about renovating and have questions about the process, be sure to attend our next “Five Steps to a Successful Renovation” seminar on June 20. Two experienced professional RenoMark renovators will walk through the essential steps to a reno, offer helpful tips and answer your questions. The session is free and takes place from 7 to 9 p.m. at BILD’s offices at 20 Upjohn Rd., in Toronto. For more information or to register, email us at renomark@bildgta.ca. Bryan Tuckey is president and CEO of the Building Industry and Land Development Association (BILD) and is a land-use planner who has worked for municipal, regional and provincial governments. Find him at Twitter @bildgta, facebook.com/bildgta and bildblogs.ca.