What a renovation contract should include before you sign: scope, allowances, payment schedule, change orders, permits and final payment, from a builder with 30+ years on site.
What Should a Renovation Contract Include Before You Sign?
Posts archive for September, 2026
How Much Deposit Should You Pay a Contractor? A Builder’s Guide to Paying Safely
How much should you pay a contractor up front? A builder with 30+ years in construction explains what a deposit should cover, red flags to watch for, and how to structure payments so you keep your leverage.
Renovation Fatigue: Why the Last 10% Takes the Longest (and How to Finish on Good Terms)
Around month seven, most homeowners hit renovation fatigue. A builder with 30+ years explains why the last 10% drags and how to finish without a fight.
Winter Construction Checklist: Getting Your Site Ready for Rain and Cold
A winter construction checklist from a site superintendent with 30+ years in the field: seasonal schedule, erosion control, cold weather concrete (CSA A23.1 / ACI 306), dry-in, temporary heat and weather delay records.
Your First 90 Days as a Site Superintendent: A Practical Plan
New to the site superintendent role? A practical 90-day plan from a super with 30+ years in the field: project takeover, daily reports, three-week look-ahead, trade meetings and the mistakes new supers make.
Final Payment on a BC Renovation: Holdback, Deficiencies and What to Check Before You Pay
Before you make the final payment on a B.C. renovation: how the 10% Builders Lien Act holdback works, how to run a final walkthrough and deficiency list, and the documents to collect first.
Buying an Older Home in Victoria BC: 9 Renovation Risks to Check Before You Remove Subjects
Buying an older home in Victoria or Saanich? A builder with 30+ years on heritage renovations explains 9 renovation risks to check before removing subjects: oil tanks, asbestos, wiring, Poly-B, drainage and more.
Contractor Change Orders: What Homeowners Should Check Before Approving One
A contractor change order can add hundreds or thousands of dollars to a renovation very quickly. Some change orders are completely legitimate. Hidden damage may be discovered, […]
How to Review a Contractor Quote Before You Sign: 7 Things Homeowners Should Check
A contractor quote can look straightforward until you try to compare it with another one. One contractor may include demolition, disposal and finishing. Another may leave those […]
Construction Site Troubleshooting: 12 Problems to Catch Before They Become Delays
This construction site troubleshooting checklist is designed to help superintendents and project managers catch problems before they become delays. Current Drawings and Revisions Confirm the crew is […]