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Finding a Contractor
Homeowners Guide
Finding a Contractor
in Toronto
The renovation market is full of skilled tradespeople and costly cautionary tales. Here's how to tell the difference before you sign anything.
Always get 3 quotes · Never pay more than 10–15% upfront · Verify WSIB clearance before work begins
01
The Search
Where to Find Contractors Worth Calling
The best contractors in Toronto are rarely the ones knocking on your door or running the biggest ad. In a tight trades market, the good ones stay busy on referrals. Your job is to get into that referral network.
That said, referrals are not always available for every type of work. Here are the sources worth using, in rough order of reliability.
Trusted Referrals from People You Know
Ask friends, family, and neighbours who have recently completed similar work. A referral from someone whose kitchen or basement you have actually seen carries far more weight than any online review. Be specific: ask who did the work, what it cost, whether it came in on budget, and whether they would hire them again.
Your Real Estate Agent
A good agent has seen dozens of renovations and knows which contractors consistently deliver. Dave works with clients before and after closing and is happy to point you toward tradespeople he has seen do quality work in Toronto.
HomeStars and Houzz
Both platforms have verified reviews and allow you to see a contractor's response history. Look for a high volume of recent reviews (not just a handful from five years ago), how they handle complaints, and whether they complete their profiles with photos of finished work. A contractor with 80 reviews averaging 9.2 is more credible than one with 6 reviews averaging 10.
Local Facebook Groups and Neighbourhood Apps
Toronto neighbourhood groups on Facebook and apps like Nextdoor can surface contractors who work in your specific area. The quality varies, but you can ask for recent experiences and get candid answers quickly. Cross-reference anyone you find here on HomeStars before calling.
Local Building Supply Stores
Staff at specialty tile shops, lumber yards, and plumbing supply stores see contractors regularly and know who places consistent orders, pays their bills, and buys quality materials. It is an unconventional source, but an honest one.
What to Avoid
Be cautious of contractors who approach you unsolicited after a storm, knock on your door offering "leftover materials," or are the only quote you can get quickly. Urgency and scarcity are classic pressure tactics. A busy, legitimate contractor almost never needs to chase work.
02
Due Diligence
How to Vet Before You Commit
Getting a quote is easy. Knowing whether the person quoting you is actually qualified, insured, and accountable is the harder part. Do this work before anyone sets foot on your property.
Most contractors who cannot satisfy these items will tell you they are not necessary. They are.
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WSIB Clearance Certificate Request a current clearance certificate and verify it at wsib.ca. This confirms the contractor and their workers are covered if someone is injured on your property. Without it, you could be held liable as the property owner.
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Proof of Liability Insurance Ask for their Certificate of Insurance showing general liability coverage of at least $2 million. Call the insurer if you want to confirm the policy is current. This protects you if they damage your property or a neighbour's.
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HST Registration Number Any contractor billing more than $30,000 per year is required to be HST registered. Ask for their HST number and verify it through the CRA's business registry. A contractor who cannot provide one is either operating under the table or misrepresenting their size.
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Licence or Certification for the Trade In Ontario, certain trades are regulated. Licensed electricians must hold a Certificate of Qualification. Plumbers must be licensed by the Ontario College of Trades. Ask for proof. For general contractors, licensing is not provincially required, but ask whether they hold any industry certifications and what their background is.
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References from Recent Comparable Work Ask for two or three references from jobs completed in the last 12 months that are similar in scope to yours. Call them. Ask specifically whether the work came in on time, on budget, how they handled problems, and whether they would hire the contractor again.
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An Online Reputation Across Multiple Platforms Check HomeStars, Google Reviews, and the BBB. Look at the pattern of reviews over time, not just the star rating. Pay attention to how they respond to negative reviews. A contractor who disputes every complaint or blames the client is telling you something.
03
The Quote Meeting
What to Ask Before You Accept Any Quote
A quote meeting is also an interview. The questions below are not gotcha questions. A good contractor will answer all of them without hesitation, and their answers will tell you a great deal about how they run their business.
Get at least three quotes. Not to find the cheapest, but to calibrate what a fair price looks like and to compare how different contractors approach the same scope of work.
Will you pull the required permits, and who is responsible for them?
A reputable contractor pulls their own permits and includes that process in their quote. If they suggest skipping permits to save money or time, that is a significant red flag. Unpermitted work can affect your insurance, create problems when you sell, and leave you liable if something goes wrong.
Watch for: "We don't really need a permit for this" or vague non-answers.
Who will actually be doing the work on my property?
Some contractors quote the job and then subcontract it entirely to workers you have never met or vetted. There is nothing inherently wrong with subcontracting, but you should know who will be in your home, whether they are insured, and whether the person you hired will be on-site regularly to supervise.
Ask: "Will you be on-site daily or do you have a site supervisor?"
What is your payment schedule?
The answer should be a deposit of 10 to 15 percent upfront, followed by payments tied to clearly defined project milestones, with a holdback of 10 to 15 percent until the work is complete and you are satisfied. Any contractor asking for a large portion of the project cost before work begins should be approached carefully.
Good answer: "Deposit, then milestone payments, final on completion."
What is the project timeline and what could delay it?
Ask for a start date and a realistic completion date, and ask what typically causes projects like this to run long. Honest contractors will mention permit timelines, material lead times, or weather. Anyone who guarantees a tight timeline without caveats may be setting you up for disappointment.
Follow up: "What happens to my project if another job runs long?"
What warranty do you provide on your work?
Ask specifically what is covered, for how long, and how warranty issues are handled. One year on labour is a common baseline. Some contractors offer more. Get the warranty terms in writing in the contract, not just verbally during the quote meeting.
Also ask: "What happens if a subcontractor's work has an issue?"
How do you handle change orders?
Scope changes happen on almost every renovation. A professional contractor has a clear change order process: any change to the original scope is documented in writing with an updated price and timeline before work continues. A contractor who makes changes verbally and settles up at the end is a recipe for disputes.
Request: A sample change order form before signing the contract.
04
Warning Signs
Red Flags and the Traps That Catch People Off Guard
Most contractor horror stories share a common thread: the homeowner noticed something felt off early on but talked themselves into proceeding. Trust that instinct. Here are the specific warning signs to act on.
The Biggest Red Flag
A contractor who demands a large cash payment upfront, often 30 to 50 percent or more before work begins, is the most common setup for a scam or an abandoned project. Cash demands with no receipt, no contract, and pressure to decide quickly are the hallmarks of a bad actor. Walk away.
No Written Contract
Any contractor who says "we don't need to put it in writing" or who provides only a vague one-page quote is exposing you to significant risk. A proper contract specifies the scope of work, materials, payment schedule, timeline, permit responsibility, and warranty. Without it, you have no recourse if something goes wrong.
A Quote That Is Dramatically Lower Than the Others
If one quote comes in 40 percent below the other two, something is being left out: materials, labour, permits, or the intention to finish the job. Low bids often balloon once work is underway and change orders start arriving. Price should be one factor, not the deciding one.
Pressure to Decide Immediately
"I can only hold this price until tomorrow" or "I have another job starting Monday if you don't book" are pressure tactics, not business realities. A contractor confident in their work and pricing does not need to rush you. Take the time you need to compare quotes and check references.
Reluctance to Provide References or Documentation
If a contractor cannot produce insurance certificates, WSIB clearance, or references without delay and excuses, treat it as a disqualifier. These are basic items that every legitimate business has on hand. "I'll send that later" that never comes is a pattern, not an oversight.
Suggesting You Skip the Permit
This benefits the contractor (faster work, no inspections) and creates risk for you. Unpermitted work may not be covered by your home insurance, can require costly remediation when discovered, and must typically be disclosed when you sell. The permit process exists to protect you, not inconvenience the contractor.
05
Common Questions
FAQ: Hiring a Contractor in Toronto
Do I need a permit for my renovation in Toronto?
Most structural, electrical, plumbing, and HVAC work requires a building permit from the City of Toronto. This includes finishing a basement, adding or removing walls, underpinning, changing windows, and adding a bathroom. Cosmetic work like painting, flooring, and cabinet replacement generally does not. Any contractor who tells you a permit is not needed for work that clearly requires one is either mistaken or hoping to skip the inspection process. Unpermitted work can cause problems when you sell and may not be covered by your home insurance.
What is a reasonable deposit for a contractor in Toronto?
A reasonable deposit is 10 to 15 percent of the total contract value, paid before work begins to cover initial materials and scheduling. Some larger projects use staged payments tied to milestones rather than a single upfront amount. Be cautious of any contractor asking for 30 percent or more before a single tool has been picked up. A payment schedule tied to project milestones protects both parties.
What is WSIB and why does it matter when hiring a contractor?
WSIB stands for the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board. It provides coverage for workers injured on the job. If a contractor or their workers are injured on your property and they are not covered by WSIB, you as the homeowner could be held liable. Before any work begins, ask your contractor for a current WSIB clearance certificate, which you can also verify directly at wsib.ca. Some sole proprietors are exempt from mandatory WSIB coverage but can opt in, so always confirm their current status.
What should I do if I have a dispute with my contractor in Ontario?
Start by putting your concern in writing and giving the contractor a reasonable opportunity to address it. If that fails, Ontario homeowners can file a complaint with the College of Trades if the trade is regulated, or pursue the matter through Small Claims Court for amounts up to $35,000. For larger disputes, you may need to engage a construction lawyer. A well-written contract with a clear dispute resolution clause makes this process significantly easier, which is why skipping the contract is so costly.
Should I hire a general contractor or manage the trades myself?
A general contractor coordinates all the trades, manages the schedule, and takes responsibility for the overall project. This typically costs 10 to 20 percent more than managing trades directly, but saves you significant time and reduces coordination risk. Managing trades yourself can work on smaller projects with limited scope. On any project involving multiple trades, sequencing, or permits, a general contractor is usually worth the premium.
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