Reno consultants aim to stop home owners from getting ripped off
[Getting a good contractor is tough, and sometimes you need someone to point you in the right direction. (Getty Images)]
A bankrupt contractor left Sally Jacquart and Russ Visch high and dry last year in the midst of a home renovation that ended up spiraling into a much bigger job thanks to the builder’s neglect.
Initially, the Toronto couple put up with the work delays, thinking that was business as usual until the builder opened the roof above their kitchen which caused more damage from rain. After nearly four months and a cost of $50,000, they’d had enough and decided to fire their contractor. Then they got word that he’d gone bankrupt.
“We were shocked and we didn’t know what to do,” says Jacquart. “Honestly, we were very nervous about hiring someone as the only yardstick we had to measure was the one we chose the initial contractor with. How could we trust our own judgment to pick somebody else, especially when we had no room to lose more money?”
They turned to The Reno Coach, a service offered by Toronto’s Reiner Hoyer, a former contractor, who now acts as a third- party advocate on behalf of the homeowner, ensuring that the reno, no matter how big or small, goes smoothly. The going rate for a reno coach or consultant is in the neighbourhood of $150 to $200 per hour but Jacquart says it’s money well spent. Not only did Hoyer give them peace of mind with his experience and advice, he managed to save them money in the long run.
“He really put our minds at ease in terms of feeling we’d connected with someone who was on our team and who would advocate on our behalf,” says Jacquart. “The magic with him is the connections he has and the relationships he builds so we know we can trust these people.”
Renovation consulting is a relatively new niche service that proponents expect will grow right alongside Canada’s booming home renovation industry. Canadians spent a record $53 billion on renos last year, according to a Scotiabank construction report. Hoyer believes Toronto’s super hot real estate market coupled with the popularity of home renovation shows on HGTV and other networks have fueled interest.
A renovation consultant often steps in once a project has gone wrong or a relationship between the homeowner and the contractor has soured. But they’re much more than hand-holders. They will assist with jobs big and small from helping you locate that funny smell in the basement to million-dollar renovations. Besides helping ensure your project is done on time and within budget, a reno coach can also meet with contractors to discuss design plans, review estimates, arrange schedules with builders, conduct inspections, solve problems, help resolve disputes with contractors and design maintenance plans for your home.
While some question their value, saying they do the same work of a contractor or designer, reno consultants boast that it’s their impartiality and the fact that they’re not selling you any extras other than their services that sets them apart.
“I’m not selling you flooring or kitchen cabinets and I’m telling you here are the important design considerations and options,” says Jeff Clarke, president and CEO of the Toronto-based Renologic.ca. “Since we’re not trying to sell you anything, our advice is based on practical knowledge and custom-tailored to your needs.”
Clarke paid a visit to a client who was about to sign an $18,000 contract to have her leaky basement waterproofed. The moisture issue had been misdiagnosed and in the end the house only needed a $1,000 repair to fix the problem.
“It’s great when you can save people a lot of money,” he says. “We’re a homeowner’s guardian angel.”
The profession may be quite new but Clarke expects it will grow thanks in part to the shortage of skilled trades people and the industry’s lack of oversight. A home inspector for 30 years, Clarke points out that when he started out few people knew of home inspections and today they’re almost compulsory.
“There’s a need for renovation consultants,” he says. “Would anybody invest $100,000 in the stock market without financial advice? Why are you spending $500,000 on your home reno without a $500 consultation from an expert?”
The home renovation process can be long, labourious and costly. Add to that the fact that many clients jump in with too much enthusiasm and too little information, there are bound to be mistakes made. Throw in disreputable contractors and you have a nightmare waiting to happen.
Hoyer always does a credit check on contractors and trades people.
“The financial stability and how they run their business should be a major concern for the client,” says Hoyer. “But often it’s not and they’re giving over money blindly. The industry is very unregulated. And everybody is so focused on looking at the workmanship and getting references in the construction and contractor industry. A guy can be a good tradesperson but he runs a lousy business so now he’s not filing his tax returns and is behind in his WSIB payments and his HST, but he continues to operate because it takes a while before they start knocking on his door.
“My approach is if I can help the people beforehand I’m doing a better service than what Mike Holmes is doing afterwards.”
From over-inflated work estimates to jobs that grow in price at every turn, Hoyer enjoys helping protect his clients from the games and tricks played by disreputable contractors.
“I feel good helping people and saving them from making the wrong choices and giving them solid advice and guidance to level the playing field.”