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Home Ownership

Who hasn't heard about a home renovation nightmare? In fact, I don't think I've ever heard of a renovation that went perfectly.

According to a recent survey, two-thirds of Canadian homeowners are planning on renovating their homes, expecting to fork out an average of nearly $10,000 a job. If you are one of those folks, you need to be very careful about who you hire to do the work.

One of the keys to a successful renovation is finding a good renovator. Here are some tips from the Canadian Home Builders Association on how to find a renovator:

• Get a list of names from your local Home Builders' Association. If the renovator is a member they have to agree to the Association's Code of Ethics.
• Visit home shows. This is an opportunity to meet the renovators in your community, check out their displays and pick up company literature.
• Ask for a reference from family, co-workers or neighbours.
• Above all take your time. You can spend months finding the right renovator, interviewing a few, getting quotes, and carefully talking to references (even contacting ones you hunt down yourselves).

A home renovation can be an expensive proposition, but if you love your neighbourhood and don't want to move to find those features your home is missing, it can be the right decision. Just be sure to do lots of homework before you start the job. And, of course, talk to your financial advisor about how you are going to pay for your new and improved home.

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