Renovation and modes of payment
While it’s normal to pay for your renovation work, it’s also important that the amounts charged correspond to those agreed. Here are a few rules to help you avoid unpleasant surprises and surcharges.
For starters, the contract you have cosigned with your contractor, outlining the work, price and payment terms, acts as your protection in the event of a misunderstanding.
At what point should payments be made for renovation work?
If the amount involved isn’t too high, you can agree to pay it on completion of the work. However, if the sums involved are more substantial, set a payment schedule and include it in the contract. You can choose to pay your contractor in instalments as the work is carried out, as suggested by the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC), or determine specific dates for the payment of amounts. For your protection:
make your payments by cheque or credit card for a simple way to leave a record; and
always ask for a signed receipt from your contractor that indicates the date, the reason for payment (e.g. first instalment for kitchen renovation, down payment on cupboards, etc.) and the amount of the payment.
If the contractor has not given you the necessary acquittances (documents attesting that all sums due have been received) for the work involved, do not hesitate to withhold the equivalent of 10 or 15% of the contract value, which you will pay 30 days after completion of the work. In this way, you shield yourself from any potential legal mortgages that may be taken out within 30 days following completion of the work.
What is a legal mortage?
For starters, the contract you have cosigned with your contractor, outlining the work, price and payment terms, acts as your protection in the event of a misunderstanding.
At what point should payments be made for renovation work?
If the amount involved isn’t too high, you can agree to pay it on completion of the work. However, if the sums involved are more substantial, set a payment schedule and include it in the contract. You can choose to pay your contractor in instalments as the work is carried out, as suggested by the Office de la protection du consommateur (OPC), or determine specific dates for the payment of amounts. For your protection:
make your payments by cheque or credit card for a simple way to leave a record; and
always ask for a signed receipt from your contractor that indicates the date, the reason for payment (e.g. first instalment for kitchen renovation, down payment on cupboards, etc.) and the amount of the payment.
If the contractor has not given you the necessary acquittances (documents attesting that all sums due have been received) for the work involved, do not hesitate to withhold the equivalent of 10 or 15% of the contract value, which you will pay 30 days after completion of the work. In this way, you shield yourself from any potential legal mortgages that may be taken out within 30 days following completion of the work.