Hiring a contractor is one of the largest financial decisions a homeowner makes. A kitchen renovation in Ottawa costs $30,000–$80,000, a bathroom $12,000–$35,000, and a whole home renovation $150,000–$400,000. Yet many homeowners spend more time researching a $500 appliance than vetting the contractor who will manage a $50,000 project.
Hiring a contractor is one of the largest financial decisions a homeowner makes. A kitchen renovation in Ottawa costs $30,000–$80,000, a bathroom $12,000–$35,000, and a whole home renovation $150,000–$400,000. Yet many homeowners spend more time researching a $500 appliance than vetting the contractor who will manage a $50,000 project. These 25 questions are organized into five categories: credentials, experience, project management, financial, and warranty. Ask every question to every contractor you're considering. Their answers — and how they answer — reveal their professionalism, experience, and reliability. A good contractor will welcome these questions. They demonstrate that you're a serious, informed client who values quality work. Contractors who are evasive, dismissive, or unable to answer clearly are telling you something important about how they'll manage your project.
1. Are you registered as a business in Ontario? — Verify at the Ontario business registry. Unregistered operators have no accountability. 2. Do you carry general liability insurance of at least $2 million? Can I see the certificate? — Verify directly with the insurer. Don't accept expired certificates. 3. Do you have current WSIB coverage? Can I see the clearance certificate? — Verify at wsib.ca. Without WSIB, you may be liable for worker injuries. 4. Who will be doing the electrical and plumbing work? Are they licensed? — In Ontario, electrical work requires a licensed electrician (Certificate of Qualification) and plumbing requires a licensed plumber. Ask for license numbers. 5. Are you a member of any professional associations (CHBA)? — Membership indicates commitment to professional standards. Not a guarantee of quality, but a positive indicator.
6. How long have you been in business under your current name? — Businesses that frequently change names may be running from a poor reputation. Look for stability — 5+ years under the same name is ideal. 7. Have you completed projects similar to mine in Ottawa? — Experience with your specific type of project (kitchen, basement, heritage home) matters more than general experience. 8. Can you provide 3+ references from recent Ottawa projects? — Actually contact the references. Ask about quality, communication, timeline, budget adherence, and whether they'd hire the contractor again. 9. Can I see a portfolio of your recent work? — Photos and ideally video of completed projects. Ask to visit a completed project or one in progress if possible. 10. How many projects do you typically manage simultaneously? — More than 3–4 active projects may mean your project doesn't get adequate attention. Ask how they balance workload. 11. Who will be the day-to-day project manager on my job? — You need a single point of contact. Ask to meet them before signing. 12. Do you use your own crews or subcontractors? — Both approaches can work, but you want to know who will be in your home. Ask about the vetting process for subcontractors.
13. What is your estimated timeline for my project? — Get a specific timeline with start and completion dates. Ask what could cause delays and how they'd be communicated. 14. How will we communicate during the project? — Establish expectations: daily text updates? Weekly in-person meetings? A project management app? Clear communication is the #1 factor in renovation satisfaction. 15. How do you handle change orders? — Changes during construction are inevitable. The process should include written change order forms with cost and timeline impact, signed by both parties before work proceeds. 16. Who is responsible for obtaining permits? — The contractor should handle all permit applications, fees, and inspections as part of the project. 17. How do you handle cleanup during and after the project? — Daily cleanup, dust control measures, and final cleaning should be included. Ask about protection of finished areas in your home during construction. 18. What happens if the project falls behind schedule? — Understand the contractor's approach to delays: will they add crew, extend hours, or simply push the timeline? 19. Do you provide a detailed project schedule? — A professional contractor provides a schedule showing each phase, trade, and milestone. This keeps everyone accountable.
20. Can you provide a detailed quote broken down by category? — Labour, materials, permits, and profit margin should be visible. A lump-sum quote with no breakdown makes comparison impossible. 21. What is your payment schedule? — Payments should be tied to milestones, not dates. Never pay more than 10–15% upfront. The final 10% should be held until all deficiencies are corrected. 22. How do you handle unexpected costs? — The contractor should address surprises with written change orders before proceeding. Ask what percentage of their projects come in at or under budget. 23. Are permits, inspections, and cleanup included in the quote? — Some contractors quote low by excluding these costs. Ensure everything is included in the total price.
24. What warranty do you provide on workmanship? — A minimum 1-year warranty is standard. Better contractors offer 2–5 years. Get warranty terms in writing as part of the contract. 25. How do you handle warranty claims after the project is complete? — Ask for the process: response time, who does the repair work, and whether there's a cost. Ask references specifically about their warranty experience. Bonus question: Can I see a sample of your contract? — Review the contract before your final meeting. A professional contract should cover all the topics discussed in these questions. If anything is missing, ask about it. Print this checklist and bring it to every contractor meeting. Take notes on each contractor's responses and compare them side by side. The most professional, thorough, and transparent answers typically indicate the best contractor for your project.
Interview at least 3 contractors for any project over $10,000. For large projects ($50,000+), consider interviewing 4–5. This gives you enough data points to identify fair pricing and the best fit for your project.
Yes. A professional contractor will welcome thorough questions. The meeting should take 45–60 minutes. If a contractor seems impatient or dismissive of your questions, that's a red flag about how they'll communicate during your project.
Some questions require follow-up (like providing insurance certificates). A professional contractor will promise to provide the information within 24–48 hours and follow through. Failure to follow up is a red flag.
Ask during the quote meeting, after the contractor has seen your project. This gives them context for answering timeline, budget, and scope questions accurately. Follow up in writing for any items that need documentation.
Generally no. Sharing competitor quotes can lead to artificially low bids. Instead, compare quotes independently and evaluate based on scope, quality, and professionalism rather than just price.