After 50+ years and 30,000+ renovation projects across the GTA, here is the checklist LF Builders recommends every homeowner work through before hiring any contractor.
Step 1: Verify Credentials and Insurance
Request these before the quote — not after you have fallen in love with their pitch:
- WSIB Clearance Certificate — Protects you if a worker is injured on your property. Verify the clearance number directly at wsib.ca.
- Certificate of Insurance — $2M+ commercial general liability minimum. Ask to be named as an additional insured on the certificate for the duration of your project.
- Business registration — Verify they are a registered Ontario business via the Ontario Business Registry. Registered business means accountability and a paper trail.
- Trade license numbers — ESA license for electricians, Ontario plumbing license for plumbers, TSSA registration for gas fitters. Ask for the number; look it up yourself.
Step 2: Review the Written Quote
A proper quote is not a lump sum. It is a line-item document.
- Scope of work with material specifications (brands, grades, dimensions where relevant)
- Line-item pricing for labour and materials
- Confirmation that permits are included and will be pulled in the contractor’s name
- A clear statement of what is and is not included
If a contractor gives you a one-page lump-sum quote with no specification, you cannot evaluate it and you cannot hold them to it.
Step 3: Know the Red Flags
Walk away from any contractor who:
- Asks for more than 15% deposit upfront (10% is the GTA industry standard)
- Refuses to pull permits (“permits just cause delays” — this creates liability at resale)
- Pressures you to sign the same day or claims the price is only good today
- Insists on cash only with no paper trail
- Cannot provide a physical business address
- Pushes a vague scope with no line-item pricing
Step 4: Review the Contract Terms
Before signing, confirm these terms are present:
- Milestone-based payment schedule — payments tied to specific completed stages, not calendar dates
- 10% holdback — held until substantial completion AND all deficiencies corrected and signed off
- Written change order process — any change above a defined threshold requires a written change order before work proceeds
- Warranty terms — minimum one year on labour; material warranties passed through from manufacturer in writing
A contract that protects you is not unusual — it is standard practice for any reputable trade.
Step 5: Call References Directly
Phone, do not email. Ask:
- Did they pull all required permits and pass inspections?
- Were there change orders? How were they handled?
- How did the contractor communicate when there were problems or delays?
- Would you hire them again without hesitation?
One reluctant “yes” on that last question is worth more than ten enthusiastic ones.
More from LF Builders and home.renovation.reviews
- LF Builders has built on trust across the GTA for 50+ years: lfbuilders.ca
- Renovation planning and hiring guides: blog.lfbuilders.ca
- Related: Complete 2026 Renovation Cost Guide for Toronto & GTA
- Samm Simon is running 251 km for cancer research — support the run at sammsimon.ca
Share your own contractor vetting experiences and red flags below — this community has seen everything.