How to Hire a Contractor: 2026 Checklist
Hiring a contractor shouldn't feel like a gamble. This is the full playbook Canadian homeowners use to hire a reliable contractor — how much it costs, what a real contract looks like, red flags to walk away from, and project-specific tips for kitchens, bathrooms, roofing and new builds. It's the same checklist we'd run if it was our own house.
The 7-step checklist for hiring a contractor
Run every hire through these seven steps, in order. Skipping any one of them is how homeowners end up on the news.
1. Verify the license and insurance
Ask for the contractor's trade license number and certificate of insurance — then actually look them up with your provincial regulator. A real pro won't blink. If they get defensive, walk.
2. Confirm WSIB / workers' comp coverage
If a worker gets hurt on your property and the contractor isn't covered, you can be on the hook. Ask for a clearance certificate dated within the last 60 days.
3. Call three real references
Don't just read reviews — phone past customers. Ask: did they finish on time, on budget, and would you hire them again? Hesitation is the answer.
4. Get at least three written quotes
Compare line items, not just the bottom number. The cheapest quote often skips permits, dump fees, or proper materials. The most expensive isn't automatically best either.
5. Get a written contract before any money changes hands
Scope of work, materials, start and end dates, payment schedule, change-order process, and warranty — all on paper, signed by both parties.
6. Never pay more than 10–20% up front
A large deposit is the #1 sign of a scam. Tie payments to milestones (rough-in complete, drywall up, final walkthrough). Hold back at least 10% until everything is done.
7. Pull your own permits — or confirm they pulled them
If your municipality requires a permit and one isn't pulled, you own the problem when you sell. Call your local building department and confirm before work starts.
How much does it cost to hire a contractor?
General contractors typically charge a management fee of 10–20% on top of materials and trade labour. On smaller jobs some pros work at a flat day rate ($600–$1,200/day for a lead carpenter). Here's what real projects run across Canada in 2026:
| Project | Typical range | What moves the number |
|---|---|---|
| Full kitchen remodel | $25,000 – $75,000 | Cabinets and countertops drive 40–60% of the total. |
| Bathroom renovation | $12,000 – $30,000 | Plumbing relocation adds $3–6k. |
| Asphalt roof replacement | $6,000 – $15,000 | Per 2,000 sq ft, tear-off included. |
| Basement finishing | $35,000 – $80,000 | Egress window + permit required in most municipalities. |
| Deck (pressure-treated) | $4,500 – $12,000 | Composite runs 40–60% higher. |
| New-home build (custom) | $200 – $400 / sq ft | Land, permits and site prep extra. |
Ranges reflect Ontario, BC and Alberta averages. Rural and northern regions typically add 10–25% for travel and materials logistics.
General contractor vs. hiring trades directly
Hire a general contractor when a project involves more than two trades or requires a building permit — their real job is scheduling, coordination and accountability, and they're worth every point of markup on complex work. Go direct-to-trade for single-trade jobs like a furnace swap, a fence, or a re-shingle where you don't need anyone quarterbacking.
Hire a GC
Kitchen, bathroom, addition, basement finish, gut reno, new build. Anything with framing, plumbing, electrical and finish work in the same job.
Hire trades direct
Roof, HVAC, water heater, windows, fence, deck refinish, driveway. One-trade jobs where the trade owns the whole result.
Project-specific hiring tips
Kitchen remodel
Ask to see three completed kitchens (photos plus one you can visit in person). Confirm the cabinet brand, box construction (plywood vs. particleboard) and countertop supplier in the contract. Require a written change-order process before demo — kitchens generate more mid-job changes than any other renovation.
Bathroom remodel
Waterproofing is where cheap bathrooms fail two years later. Get the method named in the contract (Schluter Kerdi, liquid membrane, or hot-mopped) and require the plumber and electrician to pull their own permits under their own licenses.
Roofing
Choose a roofer with WSIB (or your province's equivalent) and manufacturer certification for the shingle brand — that's what unlocks the full 25–50 year material warranty. Get tear-off, ice-and-water shield coverage, and ridge/soffit ventilation spelled out in the quote. See our roofing cost guide for detailed per-square pricing.
Building a house
For a new build use a licensed home builder registered with your provincial new-home warranty program — Tarion in Ontario, BC Housing in BC, Alberta New Home Warranty in AB. Require a fixed-price contract with a defined allowance schedule for finishes, and never sign one without a real-estate lawyer's review.
Red flags that mean walk away
- Door-to-door pitch with a 'today only' discount.
- Asks for cash, e-transfer to a personal account, or full payment up front.
- Refuses to put anything in writing.
- No physical business address or company website.
- Pressures you to skip permits 'to save money'.
- Vehicle, uniforms, and invoices don't all show the same company name.
What a real contractor contract must include
If any of these are missing, don't sign. Verbal promises don't survive a dispute:
- Full legal name, business address, HST/GST number and license number of the contractor.
- Detailed scope of work — every task, every room, every material by brand and model.
- Start date, substantial completion date, and a per-day delay clause.
- Fixed price or clearly documented cost-plus formula with a not-to-exceed cap.
- Payment schedule tied to physical milestones, not calendar dates.
- Change-order process: how changes are priced, approved, and documented.
- Warranty period on labour (minimum 1 year) and pass-through of manufacturer warranties on materials.
- Holdback amount (usually 10%) and release conditions.
- Proof of insurance and workers' comp attached as an appendix.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a contractor in Canada?
General contractors typically charge 10–20% of the total project cost as their management fee, on top of materials and trade labour. For a full kitchen remodel expect $25,000–$75,000, a bathroom renovation $12,000–$30,000, and a new-home build $200–$400 per square foot depending on region and finish level.
How much should I pay a contractor up front?
Never more than 10–20% as a deposit. Tie the rest to milestones — rough-in complete, drywall closed, final walkthrough — and hold back at least 10% until every deficiency is fixed. Large up-front demands are the single biggest red flag in home renovation scams.
How do I hire a reliable contractor?
Get three written quotes, verify each contractor's license and insurance with your provincial regulator, phone three past customers directly, and sign a detailed written contract that lists scope, materials, dates, payment schedule and warranty before any money changes hands.
How do I hire a contractor for a kitchen remodel?
Hire a general contractor experienced with kitchens specifically — they coordinate cabinetry, plumbing, electrical and tile in the right sequence. Ask to see three completed kitchens (photos plus one you can visit), confirm the cabinet brand and countertop supplier in writing, and require a written change-order process before demo starts.
How do I hire a contractor for a bathroom remodel?
Bathrooms need a contractor licensed to coordinate plumbing and electrical. Confirm waterproofing method (Schluter, hot-mopped, or liquid membrane) in the contract, get the fixture brands and model numbers in writing, and require the plumber and electrician to pull their own permits.
How do I hire a roofing contractor?
Choose a roofer with WSIB (or provincial equivalent) coverage and manufacturer certification for the shingle brand they're installing — that's what unlocks the full material warranty. Get the tear-off, ice-and-water shield coverage, and ventilation plan in writing.
How do I hire a contractor to build a house?
For a new build use a licensed home builder registered with your provincial new-home warranty program (Tarion in Ontario, BC Housing in BC, Alberta New Home Warranty in AB). Require a fixed-price contract with a defined allowance schedule, and never sign one without a lawyer's review.
Should I hire a general contractor or trades directly?
Hire a general contractor when a project involves more than two trades or requires a permit — the GC's job is scheduling, coordination and accountability. Go direct-to-trade for single-trade work (a new furnace, a fence, a re-shingle) to save the 10–20% management markup.
How Tradezlist helps
Post your job once and we notify vetted local contractors in the right trade. You get real quotes from real pros — with reviews, license info, and past work attached. No lead fees, no spam calls, no selling your number. Browse the contractor directory to see who's active in your city.