You should clearly define your renovation project, then draw up a plan, especially if you plan on having major renovation work done. This plan will help you know where you’re going and work within your budget.

Request an estimate

Hand over your plan to 3 different contractors and ask them to provide an estimate, that is, a written evaluation of the costs and materials to do the work. The costs can be estimated in different ways. The most common types of estimates are the following: a fixed overall price for the entire project, or an hourly rate for a predetermined number of work hours.

Contents of an estimate

For example, the estimate should include the following information :

• a description of the work to be done and the materials to be used;
• the total cost of the work, with detailed items;
• the terms of payment;
• the scheduled start and end of work dates.