How a larger project works
- Describe the job. Photos, a short video and rough measurements are enough to start. For anything hidden or structural, we come and look.
- Bring in the right trade. Electrical work goes to a Licensed Electrical Contractor, plumbing to a certified plumber and heavy concrete to a concrete contractor: licensed contractors the founder knows personally.
- Sign one written contract. It sets out the scope, the materials, the price and payment schedule, the dates, who cleans up, and every trade we bring in and who pays them.
- Permits, then work. The electrical contractor files the notification with the Electrical Safety Authority, and building permits are in place before the work that needs them. The trades then work in order, and we handle the light work around them.
- Inspection and handover. Electrical work is inspected under the ESA notification, and the electrical contractor receives an ESA Certificate of Acceptance, a document your insurer may ask for and a buyer may need if you sell. The final payment follows the schedule in your contract, by Square invoice.
What Ontario’s consumer rules mean for your project
Ontario’s Consumer Protection Act and the province’s guidance on home renovations shape how every contract we sign is written:
- In writing above $50. Any home renovation contract worth more than $50 must be in writing.
- What the contract shows. The contractor’s name and contact details, a description of the work and the materials, any warranties, the total cost and payment terms, a work schedule with start and finish dates, the payment schedule including any deposit, who cleans up afterwards, and every sub-trade and who pays for it.
- Estimates have a ceiling. If a contract includes an estimate, the final price for goods and services cannot be more than 10% over it unless you agree to new work or a new price.
- Cooling off. A renovation or repair contract of $50 or more signed in your home can be cancelled for any reason within 10 calendar days.
- Deposits. The province recommends keeping down payments small, no more than 10%. Any deposit we ask for is set out in the contract before you pay it.
Who does what
| Work | Who does it | What you can ask to see |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical: circuits, outlets, fixtures, panels | A Licensed Electrical Contractor | The ECRA/ESA licence number and the ESA notification |
| Plumbing: fixtures, drains, supply lines | A certified plumber or a registered apprentice | Their entry on the Skilled Trades Ontario public register |
| Heavy concrete: pads, steps, slabs | A concrete contractor | The scope and any permit, in your contract |
| Patching, touch-ups, assembly, mounting | Home Resetters | Our written quote |
The Electrical Safety Authority is clear on the first row: only Licensed Electrical Contractors, or electricians employed by one, may be hired to do electrical work in your home, and a general contractor may not do it unless it holds that licence. That is why electrical work in our projects always goes to a licensed partner.
Where our trade partners work
Which partner covers which part of the GTA is TBD while we confirm it with each of them. Tell us where the job is when you get in touch, and we confirm who can take it before you are quoted.
Before you call
- Photos of the area, and of any panel, shut-off valve or crack involved.
- Rough measurements, and the age of the house if you know it.
- Any drawings, permits or quotes you already have.
- How the space is used now, and how you want it to work afterwards.