Most people planning a bathroom or basement in Ottawa get two or three quotes. The prices will differ, but the answers to a few plain questions usually tell you more than the totals do. Here are the seven I'd ask any contractor, including us, before signing anything.
1. What exactly is in this quote?
Ask for a written, itemized quote, not a single number. You want to see demolition, plumbing and electrical, waterproofing, tile, fixtures and finishing listed separately, plus what is NOT included. If a line says "allowance" (for tile or a vanity, say), ask how much it is and what happens if your choice costs more. Ask how payments are scheduled and get that in writing too. At Clairmont you get an itemized written quote within 24 hours of the walkthrough.
2. Who takes care of the permit?
Many basement projects, and any bathroom work that moves or adds plumbing, need a City of Ottawa building permit. Ask who applies for it, whose name is on it and who books the inspections. Be careful with anyone who suggests skipping a permit that the job needs: it can cause problems with insurance and when you sell. We handle the permit when the job requires one.
3. Who will actually be in my home, and are they qualified?
Many renovation companies, Clairmont included, work with subcontracted trades. That's normal. What matters is who they are and what they're qualified to do. - Electrical: in Ontario, electrical work in your home that someone is paid for has to be done by an ESA Licensed Electrical Contractor. Ask for the ECRA/ESA licence number of whoever does the electrical and check it on [ESA's online Contractor Look-Up Tool](https://findacontractor.esasafe.com).
- Plumbing: plumber is a compulsory trade in Ontario, so the person doing it must be certified (or a registered apprentice) and listed on Skilled Trades Ontario's public register (https://www.skilledtradesontario.ca). When someone says "licensed", ask: licensed for what, and by whom?
4. What insurance do you carry?
Ask for proof of liability insurance and the amount. If something gets damaged during the work, this is what pays for it. Also ask how the workers on site are covered if one of them gets hurt. Clairmont carries $2M in liability coverage.
5. What does the warranty cover, and for how long?
"Fully guaranteed" means little until you see it in writing. Ask what the warranty covers (the workmanship, the waterproofing, the products), how long it lasts and what isn't covered. Product warranties come from the manufacturer and are separate from the contractor's warranty on the work. Our work comes with a 5-year craftsmanship warranty, and bathroom waterproofing comes with a lifetime waterproofing warranty.
6. How long will it take, and what happens each day?
Ask for two dates: when work starts and how many working days it should take once it does. Then ask what happens if they find something behind the walls, like water damage, and how changes to the price are agreed. A typical Clairmont bathroom renovation is completed in 7 days once work begins. Our [day-by-day bathroom timeline](/blog-1-1/bathroom-renovation-timeline-ottawa) shows what happens on each of those days.
7. How will we stay in touch?
Ask who your contact is, how quickly they answer and how often you'll hear from them. Small surprises are easier to handle when you hear about them the same day. On our jobs you get daily progress updates until the work is done, and help choosing finishes before anything is ordered.
