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Do your homework

Prepare for your project thoroughly. Plan everything ahead of time from materials to best practices to execution. Research online and educate yourself.

Set a firm budget

If you planned $20k, don’t try to negotiate on the price or look for someone to do it for $15k. Maximize your return instead by asking the contractor to do more.

Plan for contingency

Most likely there will be extra work required that you didn’t account for. A general rule of thumb is to add 10%-15% to the budget for unforeseen conditions.

Setting expectations for timing

You can't produce a baby in one month by getting nine women pregnant.” - Warren Buffett. There are a process and a sequence of steps to discuss.

Change orders

Any changes during project execution are costly and will cause delays. Plan well in advance to avoid making changes, unless unforeseen field conditions require.

Choosing a contractor

Educate yourself about the processes and materials for your project. This way, when talking to a contractor, you can tell whether he’s qualified to do the job.

Building management requirements

Study and understand all of the building management requirements prior to execution. Non-compliance with requirements may result in delays and penalties.

Renovating in stages

If you decide to renovate in stages, focus on parts that may disrupt your lifestyle first. Leave other parts that don’t cause you major inconveniences to later stages.

Importance of licenses

A licensed contractor can be legally held accountable for wrongdoing by government agencies. If not licensed, agencies won’t be able to take any actions.

Check liability insurance

Your contractor has to be insured. Otherwise, if something happens during the project like a worker getting injured, you may be held financially accountable.

Being added to insurance

Ask contractor to add you as an additional insured to his liability insurance. If he tries to cancel it during the project, you will be notified by the insurance company.

Checking Permits

Check with your local building department on what jobs require permits (eg. plumbing, electrical, etc.). Make sure your contractor obtains all prior to execution.

Do I need an architect

If you are going to make any structural or floor plan changes you will need an architect to draft architectural plans and file with the department of buildings.

Home improvement contract

A contract is important but only if you decide to take the dispute to court. An additional way to eliminate risks is to define the scope of work and set payment milestones.

Payment milestones

Making payments by the milestones achieved will allow you to have control over the progression of your project and will help you keep the contractor at bay.

Hazardous materials

All housing built before 1989 has asbestos, if it was built before 1980’s it also has lead. Disturbance of those materials requires specialized treatment and disposal.

Insulation

Thermal and fire insulation is important, but not as much as acoustic especially in your everyday life. Otherwise you’ll be disturbed by surrounding environments.

Floors in old buildings

Explore the option of layering new flooring on top of the existing floors first. Any work on old floors may disturb core structural elements or hazardous materials.

Rough plumbing in old buildings

Check with your building management before doing any work on old plumbing (even minor one). Otherwise, you may be forced to replace all branch piping.

Walls in old buildings

Obtain permission from building management (coop) or check the building codes (condo) before making any alterations to demising, exterior or load-bearing walls."