What Does “Verified” mean
Okanagan Contractors is upping the game in Okanagan construction listing sites and in the construction industry. We have created a platform that makes it easy to find construction companies that take what they do seriously and are going to serve their clients in a professional manner.
Our verification process takes the list of must-ask questions every client should as a contractor prior to working for them and ensures they have the minimum requirements for a construction company and the remaining information available.
Unfortunately, Canada has a highly unregulated construction industry and it has made it difficult for homeowners to protect what is for many, their biggest asset. Our goal is to give every homeowner a starting place to help them identify the contractors who share the value of elevating the construction industry and take the guesswork out of finding your next contractor.
Disclaimer: Okanagan Contractors does yearly reviews to ensure that the contractor’s information is correct, or updated at the time of the review. It is still the Homeowners, business owners, or client’s responsibility to ensure that they request information at the time of hiring, to ensure that they have the most accurate and up-to-date information available. We are not a substitute for doing your own due diligence. We are here to help you find contractors that are easy to work with and willing to provide all requested information.
Proof of Business License, and locations you are certified to work
Can your contractor legally work within the district where your job is located, without a business license the contractor cannot pull permits and can be subject to stop work orders if complaints are made. Ensuring your contractor has a business license protects you from issues with your city.
Liability insurance – you can request a certificate of insurance from your contractor
Liability insurance protects your home. Damaging a home can get costly very quickly, floods can cost tens of thousands of dollars, leaks, dings, damages home finishings and furnishings. Getting a contractor without insurance to pay thousands in damages is not likely and even if you did win, there is a good chance they don’t have the money. Ensuring your contractor has insurance, protects you and your home now and into the future if a problem should show up after they have left.
A Google business listing with reviews activated
As consumers we have become significantly more savvy with technology, this is why we believe good contractors will have a business listing where people can leave reviews. This is just another tool for us to use when making decisions. We also believe that consumers can tell the difference between good and bad and nonsense reviews. We encourage homeowners to take the time to give reviews a quick read if they are going to spend thousands of dollars with a contractor.
WCB letter of good standing if applicable, we understand that sole proprietors do not require WCB
You can find a clearance letter for a company right on the WCB website. Having workers compensation is a requirement if a business is sending anyone other then themselves onto the job site. This includes sub-trades and employees. The only time a company does not require WCB is if they are an owner-operator, that works directly for the client or for a contractor with WCB. Having WCB, means they have taken the time to invest in safe practices, have registered their business and are filing their taxes. These are all good indicators of a quality contractor.
Warranties
Does the contractor offer any warranties? We constantly hear that one of the big fears of homeowners is a contractor who will show up to do the work leave and something goes wrong and they can never reach the contractor again. Make sure you clearly see their warranties in their contracts with you.
We will add any certificates that apply to the contractor that we are supplied with.
There are hundreds of certifications available within the construction world, we will do our best to list those the contractors have shared with us that they currently carry.
- Safety
- Industry tickets
- Certifications
- Licenses
References available upon request
References, we don’t hire employees without checking references, don’t hire a contractor without checking them. These are people you are going to let into your home, be around your family and pets, and make sure you take the steps to feel comfortable with the company you choose. (We recognize that contractors may offer this information as a last step, sharing client information can become tiring and a privacy issue for the past clients if done to much and without permission)
A list of your business social media accounts
Thinking about an upcoming project? Get to know your contractor, we will list their company profiles so that you can get to know them, follow them and see their past and current work.
