Most Ottawa homeowners get burned by contractor quotes because they unknowingly compare apples to oranges. One contractor prices premium porcelain tile while another assumes builder-grade ceramic; one folds permits and disposal into the number while another leaves them out entirely. The result is three quotes that look comparable on the surface but describe three different projects. This guide walks you through getting three genuinely comparable quotes for any Ottawa renovation in 2026 — from writing a tight scope of work, to pre-qualifying contractors, to running the side-by-side comparison t...
The single biggest factor in getting comparable quotes is a written scope of work you hand to every contractor. Document each room, fixture, and finish: room dimensions, counts of items (outlets, pot lights, sinks, doors), specific brand and model numbers for any owner-selected fixtures, finish materials, demolition and disposal scope, allowed working hours, and your target deadline. A clear two-page scope produces three quotes you can actually line up against each other; a verbal 'just redo my ...
Cover the work, the materials, and the conditions. Work: every task from demolition through final paint and clean-up. Materials: brands and models where decided, allowances where not. Conditions: site protection, dust control, washroom and parking access, debris removal, and who handles permits. The...
For finishes you have not chosen yet, set an allowance — a fixed budget number each contractor includes in their quote. For example, 'tile allowance $12/sq ft supply' or 'plumbing fixtures allowance $2,800 supply.' Because all three contractors carry the same allowance, their labour pricing becomes directly comparable, and you settle the difference up or down when you select the actual product. Without allowances, one contractor quietly assumes $4 tile while another assumes $25 tile, and the com...
Do not invite eight contractors to walk your home. Phone-screen six to eight, then book site visits with your best three. Screening protects your time and theirs, and weeds out operators who cannot answer basic questions. Look for contractors who specialize in your project type — a high-end bathroom renovator is the wrong fit for a garage build, and vice versa.
Ask: How long in business? What project types do you focus on (must match your scope)? Do you carry $2M liability insurance? Do you have a WSIB clearance certificate? Can you start within my window? Can you share two recent client references with similar scope? Confirm they will pull required City o...
Walk each contractor through the project in person and ask the same questions so you can compare answers. Standard questions: How long from contract signing to start date? What is the projected completion date? What payment schedule do you propose? What is your change-order markup percentage? What workmanship warranty do you offer in writing? Who is the on-site project manager day to day (not just the salesperson)? How do you protect the rest of the house from dust and damage? Take notes during ...
In Ottawa, many renovations require a City of Ottawa building permit — structural changes, basement apartments, additions, decks over 24 inches, and most plumbing or HVAC reconfiguration. Building permit fees commonly run $1,800-$5,500 for larger residential projects, plus separate Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) permits for any wiring ($150-$485) and City plumbing permits ($150-$385). A quote that omits permits looks cheaper but shifts cost and risk to you, and unpermitted work can derail a f...
Permitted work in Ottawa triggers a mandatory inspection sequence — footings, framing, rough-in, insulation and vapour barrier, then final. Each inspection must pass before the next phase proceeds, so the permit plan directly affects your timeline. Exterior work such as foundations, decks, and concr...
Build a simple spreadsheet. Columns: line item, Contractor A, B, C. Rows: each scope item, allowances, exclusions, payment terms, timeline, permits, and warranty. Now the differences jump out. Red flags to circle: missing line items (they will reappear as change orders), lump-sum-only pricing with no breakdown, allowances set below market rate, and vague exclusions like 'unforeseen conditions extra.' Real apples-to-apples Ottawa quotes typically vary 15-25%; a spread of 50% almost always means a...
The cheapest quote often wins on exclusions, not value. Scan every quote for excluded items that will become your problem: permit fees, debris disposal and dumpster rental, asbestos or knob-and-tube remediation in older homes, patching adjacent finishes, painting after work, and restoring landscapin...
Always get three for any project over $5K. Two leaves you blind to outliers and three lets you spot the best-calibrated middle bid. Phone-screen six to eight contractors first to identify your three strongest candidates for site visits.
Phone screening takes two to four days, site visits one to two weeks, and quote return one to three weeks. Total is typically four to six weeks from start to signed contract — longer in the busy spring and summer season.
No — share your scope, not your budget. Revealing a budget invites contractors to quote right up to your number. Get the quotes first, then discuss budget in negotiation if you need to trim or adjust scope.
Not always, but usually. Low quotes commonly indicate missed scope (which becomes change orders), inexperience, missing insurance, or a contractor funding operations from your deposit. The middle quote is statistically the best-calibrated choice.
Scope mismatch causes this about 90% of the time. Re-issue your scope with more specificity — brands, sizes, finish levels, permit responsibility — and ask the outliers to re-quote. Genuinely comparable Ottawa quotes usually vary 15-25%, not 50%.