The contractor you hire will have access to your home, manage tens of thousands of your dollars, and produce work that affects your property value for decades. Getting this decision right matters more than almost any other project decision. Here is a practical, step-by-step process for choosing a contractor in Victoria, BC.
Step 1: Verify Licensing and Insurance
Before anything else, verify the contractor is licensed with BC Housing and carries current liability insurance and WorkSafeBC coverage. Ask for their BC Housing license number and look it up at the BC Housing Licensing and Consumer Services website. Ask for a Certificate of Insurance naming you as additional insured - any legitimate contractor will provide this without hesitation.
Step 2: Check References and Past Work
- ✓Ask for three references from projects completed in the last two years, ideally similar in scope to yours.
- ✓Actually call the references - ask about schedule adherence, budget accuracy, communication, and whether they would hire the contractor again.
- ✓Ask to see completed project photos or visit a finished project if possible.
- ✓Check Google reviews and HomeStars for patterns. One bad review is noise. The same complaint appearing repeatedly is a signal.
Step 3: Get Three Detailed Quotes
Get at minimum three written quotes for your project. A legitimate quote should itemize labour and materials by trade, identify what is excluded, and specify what allowances are used for items not yet selected (fixtures, tile, etc.). Beware of quotes that are vague - they leave room for disputes later. Also beware of quotes significantly lower than the others; they usually mean something is missing or the contractor plans to make it up in change orders.
Red Flags to Watch For
- ✓Demands a large cash deposit upfront (more than 10-15% before work starts)
- ✓Cannot provide proof of BC Housing license or insurance
- ✓Pressures you to sign quickly or offers a "special discount" for deciding today
- ✓Cannot provide a detailed written contract
- ✓No physical address or established business presence in Victoria
- ✓Suggests skipping permits to "save money" - this creates serious legal and insurance liability for you as the homeowner
- ✓Quote is dramatically lower than competitors without a clear explanation why
What a Good Contract Includes
- ✓Complete scope of work with detailed specifications
- ✓Fixed price or clearly defined cost-plus arrangement
- ✓Payment schedule tied to project milestones, not calendar dates
- ✓Start date and substantial completion date
- ✓Change order process - how changes are priced and approved
- ✓Dispute resolution process
- ✓Warranty terms - BC new home warranty requires 1-2-5-10 coverage for new builds
- ✓Holdback clause: BC Builders Lien Act requires a 10% holdback on each payment to protect against liens
We welcome scrutiny. Ask us for our BC Housing license, insurance certificate, and three references - we will provide all three before you commit to anything.
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