Renovations Directory
Renovations carry the most money and the most risk of any home service — long timelines, change orders, and trades you have to trust inside your home for weeks. We evaluate renovation companies on licensing and insurance, the quality of reviews around budget and schedule adherence, written contracts with clear payment milestones, and a portfolio of finished projects that match what was promised on day one.
Renovations by city
Ranked shortlists for renovations are rolling out city by city. In the meantime, here's exactly what we look for — and what to avoid — so you can vet one yourself with confidence.
Coming soon: Vancouver, North Vancouver, Surrey, Toronto, Calgary, Seattle.
What we look for in a renovation company
- A written, fixed-scope contract with milestone-based payments
- Licensing, liability insurance, and WorkSafe coverage you can verify
- A real portfolio of completed projects, ideally with references
- Reviews that mention staying on budget and on schedule
- A clear, written process for change orders and warranty work
When you need renovations
Kitchen and bathroom remodelsWhole-home renovationsBasement finishing and suitesAdditions and structural changesFlooring, painting, and finishingPermits and design-build
Red flags when hiring
- ✕Large upfront deposits well beyond materials cost
- ✕Verbal-only quotes or vague, open-ended scopes
- ✕No proof of insurance or trade qualifications
- ✕Pressure to start immediately or to pay in cash
- ✕A pattern of reviews citing delays, overruns, or abandoned jobs