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Whitby Free Pmss, Wecfresday, December 15,.1993, Page 15 A HOME DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT FEATURE Tips on hiring a k itchen renovator The contractor who pulled out half a walI, then went te take a coffee break but neyer came bock... The work island that sailed across the floor as slick as an ocean schooner, every time s0m-ebody slanimed the back door... The kçitchen drain that imitated Old Faithful a week after it was instflled.. At some time or another, almost everyone has heard a horrori story about kitchen renovations. But despite hearing many tales of woe, householders continue te choose kitchen renovation as the most popular honie-improvement project in Ontario. In 'Part, this is due to the real estate agencies' view that kItchen fixupa add the groatest value per dollar spent te the property. To help get quality work at a fair price, smart-shopping experts at Ontario's consumer ministry have corne up with some tips on hiring a kitchen reno firm. The firat step toward satisfaction with the finished product is te find the names of some competent contractors. "If friends and neighbours can't recommend a cempany, asic people you work with or a local business person. you trust for their opinions," says Marilyn Gurevsky, a manager at the Seatsonal lightrng cc er- year millions of corful estive lieta decorate. homes, offce buildings and evergreens acrosa the province. But you can neatly trimi the amount of electricity your lighta use, without affecting your enicyment one bit. SIf youre planning te buy new strings of hfghts or replace old, worn. ones, try. energ]y-àaving frive-watt bulb strings lnstead or the usual seven-watts. They corne in the. smm colours, and aeeeybit' as cheery and festive. Biut they -use upto 30 Per cent leam electriciity, and for that they deserve 'a special hoiday cheer .:,- -,- ' Bnergy can aIse ho saved by turning off your holiday lihts when you're not at home. Andby usisg a timer-. you can set * gte te turn on ana off autematically ensuring they are net beft onai night. By doing these things, you can save energy while ezjoymng a bright holiday season. Ministry cf Consumer and Commercial Relations. "Aise, asic your local homebuilder's association for their list cf contruction firma that specialize in renovation work." Usually, the worst way te decide on a contracter is te respond te a door-to-door or telophone solicitation. While some honeat firma will solicit work just because they happen te hoe doing another job in the ares, others may ho fly-by-night operations that move frein one district te another as their poor roputations become known. Ini a recent court case, a Toronto renovateir was convicted cf committing an unfair practice under the Business Practices Act and for operating as a door-to-door Mouer without a licence. Inspecters feund that hoe overcharged and that bis work was either adequate but unnecessay r inadequate. For instance, ho installed oxterior atone facing in a consumer's basement that served ne functional or esthetic purpose. "To avoid similar prolems, de soen.rosearch on the companies yeu interview and the requirements of the preject you have in mind," says Gurevsky. She suggests a quick course in what!is involved with home renovations, courtesy cf the do-it-yourself bocks at the local library. Thon, once you know roughly whatwerk you want done, and have the naines cf six te 10 contractera, give them a cal te descriho your prcject. Set up initial meetings with the three or four contractera who seund the most premising and realistic. The firat meeting is the householder's chance te find eut most cf what they'll need te know te choose a gocd contracter, including other work the firm han uaed and materials. It is net an appropriate time te asIc for references -- this ahould b. done aftor you'vo narrowed the choice te two or three -- or te accept a quota unless the prcject is very simple. Asic the contracter te mail you the quota. This reinoves. the pressure te sign a contract on the spot. At the second meeting, ho prepared te, talc in more detail. By the end cf this meeting, it should b. clear te you exactly what is plannod -- remember that it can be very expensive or even impossible te satisfy your wishes if you change your mind haîf way through the project. You should. have had time te considor the estimates bofore the meeting and te look at some of the inaterials you might wish used. The scope of the ronovation is, of course, the biggest factor in determining the. final prioe tag, but the costa of such materials as countertops (cerian or melamine), flooring, sinks, cupboards, fittings and hardware alI play a role. The installation of windows, skylights or patio doors will also have a considerable impact on costs. "Everyene has some special needs," says Gurevsky. "Don't forgot te take yours inte account before your plans are complete." A few of the porsonal preferences yeu inight want te take inte consideration include: * right- versus left-handed appliances or cupboards * levered tapa or pull-eut cabinets for anyone with llmited strength 9 sinks, cabinets and countors with wheelchair access " built-in small appliances " islands and counters with enough workspace te, suit the number cf people who cook e seating areas that can expand or contract te suit a growing or mobile fainily. To receive a list cf contracters specializing in renovation in the Toronte area, caîl the Greater Metro Toronto Home Builders' Association at (416) 391-3445 or the Toronte branch cf the Ontario Home- Builders' Association at tell-free 1-800-387-0109. @-s no inc. m A leader in outdoor fixtures in Canada is pleased ta announoe that you can purchase your Snoc fixtures at Osso City Lighting on Sundays now lii Christmas. 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