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Toronto has no shortage of contractors. Finding one is easy. Finding a good one – one who shows up, does the work properly, communicates throughout, and doesn’t disappear the moment a problem emerges – is harder. Here are the questions that actually separate the good ones from the rest.
Are You Licensed and Insured – and Can You Prove It?
This is table stakes, and it’s remarkable how often it goes unverified. Ask for proof of general liability insurance and WSIB (Workplace Safety and Insurance Board) coverage. A contractor who can’t produce both documents within 24 hours of being asked is a contractor you don’t want working on your home. If something goes wrong on a job done by an uninsured contractor, the liability can fall on you as the homeowner. You also verify that the contractor has WSIB coverage directly on WSIB’s website.
For electrical work specifically, ask for the electrician’s ESA licence number. You can verify it on the ESA website.
Who Is Actually Doing the Work?
Many contractors are essentially brokers – they quote the job and then subcontract it to whoever is available at the time. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this model, but you should know who is coming to your home, what their qualifications are, and who is responsible when something isn’t right.
Ask: Will your own employees be doing this work, or subcontractors? If subcontractors, who are they, and do you work with them regularly? A contractor who uses a consistent, known group of trades is very different from one who finds workers on an as-needed basis.
How Does Your Quote Process Work?
A serious contractor quotes in writing, in detail. The quote should specify what work is included, what materials will be used (including brand and grade where relevant), what is explicitly excluded, and the payment schedule.
Be very wary of:
- Verbal quotes only
- Quotes that arrive immediately without a proper site visit
- Quotes that ask for more than 10–15% upfront before work begins
- Quotes with very large holdbacks due only at completion, with no milestones in between
What Does Your Warranty Cover?
Ask specifically what the workmanship warranty covers and for how long. A one-year workmanship warranty is industry standard for renovation work. Anything less should raise questions. Ask what the process is if something goes wrong – who do you call, how quickly do they respond, and who bears the cost of correction?
Can You Give Me References – From Similar Work?
References are easy to cherry-pick, but they’re still worth asking for. Request references specifically from projects similar to yours in scope and type. And actually call them. Ask about communication, whether the project came in close to the original quote, whether the site was kept clean, and whether they’d hire the contractor again.
What Permits Are Required for This Job?
A contractor who doesn’t raise the permit question on permit-required work is a contractor who is either going to skip the permit or expects you to manage it. Unpermitted work creates real problems when you sell your home and can create insurance complications. Ask about permits specifically, and ask who pulls them and who coordinates the inspection.
The Red Flags
- No written contract or quote
- Pressure to start immediately or lose the spot
- Large upfront payment demands (more than 15%)
- No physical address or established business history
- Unwillingness to provide insurance documentation
- ‘We can do it without a permit and save you money’
Trust your instincts. If a contractor is difficult to communicate with during the sales process, they will be more difficult during the project. The best contractors are usually not the easiest to book – they have work. Plan ahead, get multiple quotes, and choose based on confidence rather than price alone.
Ready to Talk?
If you have questions about your home – or you’re ready to get started – call us at 647-427-7366 or request a quote at thehandyforce.com. We serve East York, North York, and the surrounding Toronto neighbourhoods.
– The HandyForce Team
