Homeowners FAQ

We know how stressful it can be to undertake a home renovation project. That's why we designed our platform to support you at every stage of the project, starting with the design phase and the careful selection of architects, engineers, and interior designers. We then help you connect with qualified and reliable contractors with valid licenses and insurance that covers personal injury and property damage.

To find your ideal general contractor, you can review the ratings and comments left by our community of homeowners in our recent projects. We also provide you with all the best practices per project type and pricing benchmarks gathered by over 1,000 other renovation projects started on our platform. We are currently not able to support minor repair and maintenance projects costing less than $20,000.

The more detailed the renovation description, the better your Billdr Consultant will be able to assess the scope of work and assist you with the next steps of the project. 

We encourage you to try to describe your renovation project as best you can. When you meet with your Project manager, they will help you fill in details and provide a clear assessment of the work to be done.

Here is an example of a poorly detailed project description:
''We want to renovate our bathroom.''

Here is an example of a complete and well-detailed project description:'
'We would like to renovate our bathroom located on the ground floor including the following work:
- Replace the bath-shower with a bath and a separate shower (plumbing is accessible through the ceiling under the bathroom)
- Replace toilet and vanity
- Replace the tile on the floor and walls
- Add a heated floor
- Change ceiling lighting
- Add a bathroom fanWe would like to have support for the selection of ceramics and faucets.''

Before choosing a contractor, we recommend that you meet with them to discuss their proposal. To avoid misunderstandings, don't take anything for granted and clarify all the important aspects of your renovation project. In particular, confirm when the work will start, how long it will take, who will be responsible for purchasing materials, and how payment terms will be structured. A Billdr Project manager can guide you through this process.

Find out how we vet contractors and what are the benefits of working with a Billdr certified contractor in this detailed guide.

The process of finding a general contractor can be long and stressful, especially when you are unfamiliar with the industry and its market prices. Through Billdr, you will save time and energy searching for candidates and you will have access to vetted and qualified contractors. The quotes prepared by our contractors are aligned with market prices and since you could be put in contact with up to 2 or 3 contractors, it is to their advantage to offer competitive prices.

We invite you to use our estimation tools to estimate the cost of your project:

• Kitchen renovation cost estimator
• Bathroom renovation cost estimator
• Driveway paving & paver stone cost estimator
• Home extension and addition cost estimator

A building permit is required if you plan to change the layout or the function of a room (e.g. add a bathroom, convert a bedroom into a kitchen, add an extension, etc.) or change the exterior appearance of your property (facades, windows, etc.). To find out if you need to apply for a permit, check with your municipality.

For residents of the City of Montreal, you can find out more here: Montreal website.

If you give a contractor power of attorney, they can apply to your municipality on your behalf. However, this formality remains the responsibility of the owner. We recommend you take care of this yourself, allowing your contractor to focus on the renovations.

Delays for obtaining a permit can vary greatly depending on the type of work and the city or municipality in which you are located. For minor work such as the replacement of doors and windows and interior renovation without structural work, the processing time can vary from 2 to 10 weeks.

For major work such as a home extension, the addition of an accommodation, interior renovation involving structural work and modification of exterior facades, the processing time can vary from 2 to 12 months. To find out the delays for issuing permits in your municipality, contact your permit department.

For residents of the City of Montreal, you can find out more here: Montreal website.

Having a plan prepared before work begins will allow you to precisely establish the scope of your project and communicate it effectively to your contractor in order to obtain a fair quote. Depending on the type of project, plans may include room dimensions, dimensions and position of doors and windows, choices of materials and coverings, number and position of electrical and plumbing equipment, and more.

To find out what documents are required by your municipality depending on the type of project, contact the permits department. For residents of the City of Montreal, you can find out more here: Montreal website.

For interior work such as renovating a kitchen, bathroom or basement, and rearranging rooms, we suggest you work with an interior designer. For major work such as a home extension, the addition of a dwelling and the modification of exterior facades, we suggest you work with a technologist or an architect. For any work involving a modification to the structure of your house, contact an engineer.

A floor plan is a diagram that provides a 2D top view (plan view) of the layout of your home, including the size of each room, as well as the position of walls, doors, and appliances. It allows the contractor to better visualize your interior and make recommendations that take the potential challenges of your renovation project into account.

Delays for receiving quotes may vary from 1 to 4 weeks depending on the type of project and its scale.

Lump sum contracts, also known as fixed price, are contracts in which the general contractor agrees to complete a project for a fixed price established in advance. This type of contract is best used when all parties have a clear understanding of the scope of work, materials, and labor required for the project. A Lump sum contract is attractive to clients because it provides a clear and defined price for the project and reduces uncertainty.

Cost-plus contracts, also known as cost reimbursement, are contracts in which the general contractor agrees to complete a project and the client agrees to pay all direct costs plus a pre-established markup, known as a fee. This type of contract is best used when the scope of work is unclear and is likely to change during the course of the project. A Cost-plus contract provides more flexibility for the contractor, but also increases uncertainty for the client as the final cost of the project may be higher than expected.

Before choosing a contractor, we recommend that you meet with them to discuss their proposal. To avoid misunderstandings, don't take anything for granted and clarify all the important aspects of your renovation project. In particular, confirm when the work will start, how long it will take, who will be responsible for purchasing materials, and how payment terms will be structured.

Payment terms may vary from a contractor to another and depending on the scale of the project. In general, we recommend the following payment schedule:
- 10% deposit upon signature of the contract
- 40% at the beginning of work
- 40% at mid work
- 10% retainer upon completion of the project

For larger projects (over 100k), we suggest that you discuss with your contractor to spread out payments according to the stages or progress of the project.

Engaging in home renovations is frequently a stressful and demanding endeavor. Particularly for extensive projects impacting primary living areas, we highly advise considering temporary relocation. Enduring the disruptions of a construction zone, including noise, dust, and constant worker activity, can further compound the challenges of the renovation process.

However, in instances where the project involves renovating the kitchen or the sole bathroom, you may have no choice but to relocate. Nonetheless, the necessity of relocation depends on the specific scale and nature of the renovation.

We recommend establishing a clear method of communication from the start of the work with your general contractor. In order to properly document your project, we recommend taking photos at key stages of the work such as:
- after demolition;
- after structural and mechanical work (electricity, plumbing, HVAC);
- before closing the walls and ceilings with gypsum;
- and during finishing.

Send change requests to your general contractor in writing. Ask what impact the changes will have on the timeline and cost of your project before any changes are made to avoid unwanted surprises.

If you find defects during or at the end of your renovation project, take note of them. Send this list to your general contractor, along with photos. Once the corrections have been made, review them together to ensure that everything is in order before you make your final payment.

Please note that we are currently working on the development of a function that will allow you to create a list of deficiencies directly on your Billdr dashboard. We believe this is a crucial step towards the completion of your project.

You will receive invoices by email and can make payments directly on the Billdr website using bank transfer, pre-authorized debit, or credit card. Payment methods vary from contractor to contractor. In general, we recommend the following payment terms:
- 10% deposit upon signature of the contract
- 40% at the beginning of work
- 40% at mid work
- 10% retainer upon completion of the project

For larger projects (over 100k), we suggest that you discuss with your contractor to spread out payments according to the stages or progress of the project.

A deposit allows the general contractor to purchase necessary materials and book subcontractors. General contractors avoid financing homeowner projects and rarely agree to advance funds for the purchase of materials or the payment of subcontractors. However, it is common for homeowners to hold a final payment of 10% until the work is completed.

If you’re a resident of Canada, Billdr provides financing through our partner, Nesto, a mortgage lender that offers some of the lowest refinance rates. With help from advisers and a streamlined service, homeowners can get the best mortgage rate and save money with their renovation. To learn more about refinancing your mortgage with Nesto, click here. 

1) Payment by Wire transfer or pre-authorized debit (PAD) - Canada Only

‍Pre-authorized debit is an authorization by invoice sent (with a specific amount) between your bank and Billdr's bank account. You must therefore understand that you retain control of transactions throughout your project. Once the funds are received, Billdr will proceed to the payment of your contractor.

To pay:
- Select your bank (RBC, Bank of America, Desjardins,, etc.)
- Authenticate (the account and password you use to log into your bank)
- Select the account to be debited (e.g. chequing or saving account)

If you run into technical difficulties, please try again with another internet browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.) or from another device (smartphone, computer). Please do not use incognito mode to avoid loading errors during payment. Fees for this payment method are 0.5% of the transaction capped to a maximum of $200.

‍2) Payment via credit card - US/Canada

‍You may pay all your invoices via credit card (Visa, MasterCard, etc.).

- Note that there will be a fee of 3.9 % that will be charged on invoices between a Contractor and Homeowner (Canada only).

Residents of Montreal can secure a warranty through ACQ Residential Services, which will protect your investments in the event of construction mishaps, defects, or uncompleted work by the contractor. To learn more about securing a warranty through ACQ, click here. 

In the event of damage to your home, contact your home insurance provider to make a claim and they will guide you through next steps.

Contractors hired through the Billdr platform are required to offer a one-year guarantee for the work they provide. If you require corrections, we suggest that you contact your contractor with a description of the issue and supporting photos. 

We recommend that you document your reasons for choosing the contractor and important decisions concerning your renovation project as they happen in order to have accurate references in the event of a disagreement. Be sure to address financial matters in writing rather than verbally.

In Québec, you can file a complaint with the Régie du Bâtiment du Québec (RBQ), which could result in a court case.

In Ontario, you can file a complaint with Consumer Protection Ontario if you did not receive the goods or services for which you paid and contracted.

In the USA, the judiciary instance varies per state.