How bad is this recession going to get? Is the sky actually going to fall…nobody knows for certain but the one thing we do know is people are going to continue to renovate!

Don’t just take my word for it, let’s look at a few industry factors that I believe are going to contribute to this trend. New home construction is slowly down in most areas across the country as many people are shying away from purchasing new homes in anticipation of a potential bottoming of the market and a lack of access to credit. This means more people are looking to stay in their current existing homes and improve upon them.

As homeowners look at potential ways to save money in the wake of a recession, travel and recreational expenses are always the first to go. This means the average homeowner is looking at spending more time at home and more likely wants to improve their home. Renovations make sense, increase the value of your home while increasing your own direct enjoyment from your home.

Also as the work flow dries up for many new home construction trades, many of them are making the shift back to home renovations. What does this mean for the average homeowner exactly. Money Sense Columnist Julie Cazzin says DO RENOS! Remember that three-month wait you had to endure to get your leaky faucet fixed? Remember the staggering bill you had to pay? That all becomes a distant memory if recession hits.

When times turn tough, skilled trades people are eager to do household chores, on your schedule. Better yet, homeowners will once again have some bargaining power and that should result in lower prices. “A roofing contractor, for instance, can knock a thousand dollars off a $6,000 job because he can absorb the loss into labor costs,” says Mel Fruitman, vice-president of the Consumers’ Association of Canada in Ottawa. “That’s why home renovations and repairs is one area where you’ll see actual price decreases for consumers instead of just price freezes.”

CMHC reports indicate that Canadians spent over 17 billion in home alteration and home improvement projects. The renovation business is one of the few truly recession proof businesses. When the market is booming, people want to move up and that sometimes requires updating the bathrooms and kitchen. When the market is stagnant, people stay put and spend money beautifying their existing surroundings.

Choosing a contractor is much like any other major decision in life, it is not easy. It takes time, and you may not always be 100 % satisfied with the end result. The main stream media has provided society with images of what a reputable contractor should look like; well dressed, well spoken and drives a certain type of vehicle. These factors have some importance, but are only one piece to a very complex puzzle. The buzz phrase of the day is, “renovations gone wrong”. The local media has used this fearful term to catch homeowners attention and as a catalyst to generate a society with one single thought process when it comes to taking on a renovation project “Most Contractors are out to get you!” Everywhere you turn there are how to books on what to look for, what to ask for and how to guarantee a fool proof renovation project. Everyone in their own way has become their own resident expert on home renovations. This out of the box retail inspired solution of an ideal contractor and the ideal home renovation project may exist on television, but as many of you know, you should not always believe what you see on TV. It is important to understand the reality of what you, the homeowner, are up against when choosing to enter into a renovation project.

Sensationalism aside, what is it that makes a home renovation such a difficult process and should we paint all contractors with the same brush (pardon my pun)? I believe many people view a renovation project much like a retail transaction. The problem with this view point is unlike the retail game, there are a larger set of variables and less structured pricing when it comes to the renovation industry. Contractors carry different types of qualifications, certifications, customer service skills, access to price points and overall work ethic. Therefore, when renovating you have to recognize that a renovation project is for the most part is a much larger purchase then your average retail transaction and thus you should allocate more time to it before making a commitment. Fortunately despite the mainstream media’s best efforts to make you think otherwise there are great contractors out there but unfortunately there is no magic solution to choosing the right contractor because a good company can go bad quickly and a sub par company can turn it around in a hurry. One contractor might be right for you but wrong for your neighbour. You need to look at all your potential suitors (contracting companies) and evaluate them for yourself. A website like ours (www.quickcontractors.com), referrals from friends and many of the other traditional places to find contractors are a great place to start your search but ensure you do your due diligence and collect all the pertinent documentation prior to engaging in any project.

Ask a lot of questions, read up on your rights and responsibilities and make sure you get everything spelled out in writing prior to starting the job. Understanding the rules and etiquette of the game is crucial to making the right plays!

This is the official blog of Quick Contractors.com. Over the coming months you’ll find a wealth of information here on finding contractors, planning renovations and repairs, obtaining financing, and more.

We’ll also publish informative and entertaining stories from homeowners just like you who have used Quick Contractors’ free contractor matching service to select the perfect contractor…and we’ll also have some stories from people who didn’t use Quick Contractors and had a less happy experience!

Please check in again soon.