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Category: General Contractors

Step-by-Step Planning Guide For Home Building Projects in Toronto
Step-by-Step Planning Guide for Your Major Renovation or Home Building Project in Toronto

Embarking on the journey to build your dream home is an exciting but sometimes daunting process if you are unsure of how and where to start. As Toronto’s leader in quality home renovations and home building, we’ve taken the time to outline a step-by-step guide to help you feel prepared to navigate this journey smoothly.

By following these steps, you’ll ensure that your home-building project proceeds without unnecessary hitches, leading to a successful and seamless path to your dream home. We at BVM Contracting are here to support you every step of the way!

Who is this guide for?

This guide is for anyone interested in completing a substantial renovation or home building project for their property (or properties) in Toronto. This guide will be helpful for others outside of Toronto but some of the steps are geared towards how Toronto handles building permit applications.

welcome to The Process to successfully Planning your dream home building project in Toronto

Step 1: Reach out to a Local General Contractor or Home Builder

The first step in your home planning journey is to find reputable General Contractors (GC) or Home Builders to bring through the process. This is crucial as a reliable Contractor will help streamline the entire process. Ensure they have:
- Compliance with local regulations
- Appropriate insurance and WSIB coverage
- A solid and fair Contract
- Proven past project experience
Don’t hesitate to ask for all this information upfront, a trustworthy Builder will have no issue providing it. Confirming their credibility early on will make the rest of the process much smoother. You will want to try to create a short list of companies based on which companies you feel will be able to help you through the remaining steps.

Be wary of the companies that require you to pay them a retainer to commit to working with them before they provide you any understanding of project costs. Would you buy a house without knowing the purchase price? Don’t get sucked into high-pressure sales tactics, do yourself a huge favour and start the planning process way before you want to start your project so you don’t fall victim to the “I’m booking up quick” sales tactics and the other slime-ball tactics builders use to get you locked into a contract with them.

Cost of Step 1 with BVM Contracting: $0
Step 2: Completing a preliminary Zoning Review

Before you can start planning the specifics of your home renovation or home-building project, you will need to understand what is possible to complete on your property. Some common questions include:
- How high can I build?
- How many storeys or levels can I build?
- How far back can I extend?
- How much building coverage am I allowed on my property?
- How far away from the property line am I allowed to build?
- How many units can I build?
A zoning review will determine the limitations and possibilities for your project based on Toronto’s and the GTA’s local regulations. Every neighbourhood has a different set of zoning by-laws that dictate what you can and can’t do on your property. At BVM Contracting, we ensure that a preliminary zoning review is completed as soon as possible to determine what you can do on your property. This serves many helpful purposes:
- It allows us to set expectations with our clients very early on in the process about the potential roadblocks to certain projects on their property and if Committee of Adjustment may be needed
- It allows us to hone in on the preliminary scope of work for the project which helps us in Step 3.
- It allows us to get our trusted permit designers and architects involved to evaluate the proposed project and provide a second set of eyes to determine project feasibility.
If the client wants to complete a project on their property that is going to result in a zoning bylaw variance that will push the project application to Committee of Adjustment, we will let them know what the additional steps are during the permitting process and will usually only proceed if there is a good chance of getting the variances approved at C of A. Every client has a different risk tolerance so we try to take this time to determine how much of a risk the client is willing to take to get their proposed project approved.

If it is determined that there will be no zoning bylaw variances then we glide swiftly into Step 3. The word “Preliminary” is put into the title of this step because the zoning review is usually completed without an updated survey of the property. Brownie points if you have an up-to-date topographic survey of your property in question, but it is by no means necessary at this point as we can pull data from the Toronto zoning map to estimate the size of your parcel of land.

The preliminary zoning review will take a couple of weeks at its longest to be completed, sometimes even faster depending on how well your General Contractor works with their design partners.

Cost of Step 2 with BVM Contracting: $0
Step 3: Get Estimated Costing Information From General Contractor or home builder

Once you understand the zoning limitations of your property, getting estimated costing information from a General Contractor is your next best step. For existing home renovations and addition projects this usually involves a site visit to review the property and its existing conditions. If there is enough information about the property that is electronically available your General Contractor may be able to gather enough information (with your help) to expedite the estimating process.

At this stage, any necessary discovery work (such as footing analysis and exterior wall assembly analysis) should be completed to ensure the existing structure can be utilized for your substantial renovation or home-building project.

It is important at this stage to get multiple estimates for your project, so use your short-listed group of General Contractors or Home Builders from Step 1 to see what they can come up with for you. This will also act as an evaluation step to see which General Contractor is right for your project. Some things to consider when evaluating the estimated costing information from different companies:
- Make note of which companies are taking the time to learn about the existing conditions of your home or property, they are likely going to have more accurate estimates
- Be wary of the companies that only give you a “cost per square foot”. Per square foot of what? Does that include the garage? Does that include the basement? Inside or outside exterior wall? There is so much nuance with the way different companies do their pricing per square foot that it ends up being a horrible way to gauge project costs. If they are unwilling to take the time to give you an actual budget range then they don’t deserve your business.
- Make note of the companies that are prompt with their responses and take the time to educate you about your project.
This step shouldn’t take longer than a few weeks to complete, maybe less depending on the complexity of the project and how much information is available. BVM Contracting completes free preliminary construction estimates and can turn them around in less than 2 weeks. The goal is to see if the budget ranges provided can be supported by your finances/budget, and the ranges will vary depending on how much effort is put in by each General Contractor. At this phase it is best to avoid thinking the lowest budget range is going to work for the budget, chances are that all of the work has not been accounted for yet by the company that gave you a low estimate, so for the purposes of Step 5, look to the budget that has more detailed information/costing to determine your likelihood of being able to afford the project.

Cost of Step 3 with BVM Contracting: $0

Step 4: Get a Fee Proposal from a Permit Designer or Architect

You’ll need a Permit Designer or Architect to draw up the plans for your home and walk you through the process of obtaining a building permit. Obtain a fee proposal from a couple of BCIN Permit Designers and/or Architects (both will work for residential construction projects). This fee proposal should cover the cost of:
- Capturing the existing layout of your home (in the case of home additions and renovation projects where the existing home remains intact to some degree) through the use of laser scanners.
- Reviewing your property’s zoning bylaws to determine what changes can be made to get you a building permit for your project to help guide the decision-making process for creating proposed floorplans
- Creating the necessary layouts for your proposed project through CAD software (AutoCAD, Revit, Sketch-up, or similar)
- Many times the Permit Designer or Architect will represent you at Committee of Adjustments (C of A) to get variances approved. They would also do research to determine which variances have been historically approved in your neighbourhood to help strengthen your application. In other cases (or for more complex cases) it makes sense to bring in a planning consultant to help ensure your application with C of A has the highest chance of success. It would be a good idea to ask the companies/people you are getting fee proposals from if they would represent you at C of A or not to help understand what the costs would be and if you should be thinking about bringing in a Planning Consultant.
- Coordinating the structural, mechanical, and building code information onto the drawings to be reviewed in a final application for obtaining a building permit. Usually Permit Designers and Architects hire third-party Engineers and HVAC designers to complete the structural and mechanical components of the project but make sure those fees are included in their proposal.
- Coordinating the permit application to submit to the local municipality
At BVM, we have list of trusted and reputable Permit Designers and Architects who can help get you from concept to permit. We can refer you to some of the companies we work well with, but if you decide to go a separate route and hire your own that is perfectly fine. As long as your chosen Permit Designer or Architect allows us to work with them during the design phase then we are good to go!

Cost of Step 4: Variable based on fee proposals and how detailed you want the drawings to be

***Note that BVM’s costs up until this point is still $0!***

Step 5: Get Financing Approval

With estimated costs in hand from your Builder Partner(s) and Design Partner(s), the next step is to secure financing from your Bank or Lender. Ensure that the projected costs fit within your budget and include a contingency for unexpected expenses. It would be a good idea to have at least a 5% contingency over and above the total costs shown from your Builder and Designer, though 10% would put you in a great position. The last thing you want to do is go into a construction project without a financial safety net so make sure that you aren’t moving forward unless you have more than the amounts given to you in steps 3 and 4. Confirming your financing early in this process ensures that you can proceed without financial interruptions during the project and aren’t wasting your time on a project you cannot afford.

The most common sources of funding for projects are refinancing an existing mortgage, getting a second mortgage, a Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC), or funding from private sources (family, friends, private investors).

Give yourself a good month to go through this exercise, it takes a surprising amount of time to work with a financial institution so if you have to utilize one to get financing please keep this in mind. If you already know where the money is coming from and it is exceeds the amounts from steps 3 and 4 then please proceed to Step 6.

Cost of Step 5: $0

Step 6: Obtain a Topographic Survey

A topographic survey provides detailed information about the contours and features of your property (trees, fencing, outbuildings, slopes, etc.) to overlay onto your permit drawings. This is crucial for the zoning review and for planning the construction as it will dictate the location, size, and height of your newly proposed home. While it’s ideal to obtain this early, you can wait until after securing financing to avoid spending money until you have financing approval. Your permit designer and GC can use educated assumptions in the meantime to determine what is possible on the property (Step 2).

The amount of time it takes to obtain a survey is anywhere between 4-8 weeks depending on which surveyor you work with and how busy they are. BVM Contracting has a very good relationship with our Surveyor to help expedite the turnaround time of obtaining a survey, so feel free to reach out to us to get a quote from our surveyor!

Cost of Step 5: $2 500-$3 500 + HST (from surveyor)

You Guessed it! BVM’s Costs are Still $0!

Step 7: the Design Process + Zoning Review

Usually, your Design Partner will be able to start the design process concurrently with the process of getting an updated survey so concurrently with Step 6 you can reach out to your preferred Design Partner to engage them to help with the design and permitting for your project. Usually, their pricing is broken down based on which phase they are in so you won’t be paying everything upfront. Instead, you will pay a certain amount for a deposit to retain your chosen Design Partner, then they will start their process. As you hit certain milestones your Design Partner will invoice you based on the amounts outlined in their fee proposal. BVM Contracting can help you review the fee proposal to ensure you understand what the total costs will be and any potential charges that might come up during the process.

Begin creating a preliminary set of drawings for your home. These preliminary designs will be used for the zoning review once you come up with a design you are comfortable moving forward with. The amount of time it takes to get to the point where you can submit the plans for zoning review varies, but expect it to take anywhere between 1.5 – 4 months depending on how busy your chosen design partner is and how many revisions are needed before you land on a finalized layout. The goal is to get the finalized layout submitted to the City as soon as possible for a zoning review to determine what your next step is (zoning certificate and straight to permit submission prep or Committee of Adjustment).

During this process, you can lean on your preferred General Contractor or Home Builder to ask questions about how certain design decisions will affect the budget for your project. This is a key component of the design process to ensure that your design is not going to put you over budget. BVM offers this service free of charge to help build trust with every project and ensure you are going to be able to build once you get your permit.

It is also important to note that Committee of Adjustment, if needed, will delay the process by many months if your design triggers variances. You can expect it to delay you by about 3-4 months, potentially more depending on which area of Toronto you are in and how many outstanding C of A applications are waiting for hearing dates (Scarborough v.s. North York, they have separate C of A hearings).

Last point is the debate between submitting or not submitting for zoning review separate from the building code review (they are separated in Toronto). We strongly recommend doing the zoning review because it will give you absolute confidence that what you want to build is allowed to be built on your property. This will, in turn, justify further investment into the design/finalization of the drawings in Step 9 and give your GC/builder the confidence to price out the project in more detail for you. There is a cost associated to getting a zoning review (25% of the total permit submission costs), but this cost is applied to the total amount once you end up getting everything submitted for the building code review.

Cost of Step 7: Variable depending on which designer you go with and how detailed you want the drawings

BVM Costs: $0

Step 8: Preliminary Pricing Based on Drawings

Once your design has been reviewed for zoning by the City of Toronto and you get your zoning certificate (or when you get approval through C of A) we start building the detailed scope of work and preliminary budget for your project. This will allow you to make any necessary adjustments to the design to fall more in line with your budget BEFORE you submit the design for a permit.

At BVM Contracting, we’re committed to providing our clients with realistic and accurate pricing tailored to their specific project. This step helps in aligning your design with your budget and provides a clear understanding of potential costs. This checkpoint is very important and should not be skipped (unless you want to have a permit in hand and a project that is already over budget). Even the best designers do not have a solid understanding of construction costs so it is your GC’s job to set expectations for where the budget will need to be based on your design. If adjustments need to be made they can be made to bring things back in line with your budget.

This process varies depending on the size and complexity of the project but you can expect this to take 2-3 weeks. This step can usually be completed concurrently with Step 9 but your GC will advise you accordingly based on their review of your budget and the drawings.

BVM Costs: Still $0

Step 9: Finalize Design for Permit Submission

Once you have a good understanding of the budget for your proposed design you will work with your design partner to finalize the drawings by overlaying the structural, mechanical, and building code information onto the drawings. This usually involves external involvement from a structural engineer and HVAC designer so this process usually takes between 4-8 weeks to complete. It is important to note that if you end up going through C of A that there will be a appeal period that lasts 30 days from when you get approval so you won’t be able to submit the finalized permit drawings until after 30 days from your hearing date. This usually works out because this process usually takes longer than 30 days to complete, especially when you are dealing with third-party consultants like Engineers and HVAC Designers.

Once the finalized permit submission package is completed the knee-jerk reaction is to submit right away, but if you have time we usually recommend you wait until after the construction budget is finalized and the contract is reviewed and approved (steps 10 and 11). The reason for this is so you have all of the numbers finalized and contract reviewed so you can make sure the project is inline with your budget and you have a confirmed start date with your chosen GC before spending money on the remaining 75% of the permit fees.

BVM Costs: You Guessed it, $0

Step 10: Review Finalized Construction Budget

Once there is a set of finalized drawings with the structural, mechanical, and building code information included BVM Contracting goes through the process of finalizing the scope of work/budget. This usually includes a site visit (for homes being maintained) with some of our subcontractors to understand the existing conditions of the home in more detail so we can finalize numbers and scope. We also send the drawings out to all of our vendors who will be supplying materials for the project to finalize material costs for the project.

This process usually take a few weeks but is a very important step in this process. It will give you ultimate confidence that what you see on your budget/scope with us is what you get, and if other Builders or GC’s are not doing this you can take note and use that in your decision-making process. If other companies are unwilling to put in the time to help you finalize your budget before the contract is signed then do they really deserve your business? It is tedious and time-consuming but ultimately gives you the peace of mind you need to move forward with your project.

BVM Costs: Rhymes with Hero Hollars

Step 11: Contract Review and Signing

Once the budget and scope are finalized, the last step is to review and sign the contract with your GC or home builder. This step formalizes your agreement and sets the terms for the construction process. We have put together a guide that outlines some of the key aspects of contracts in the residential construction industry that you can review further!

BVM Costs: At this point once you are able to make the most informed decision we require a deposit upon contract signing to hold your project start date. Usually $25 000 + HST for larger projects.

Step 12: Permit Submission

Once you have a finalized budget and signed contract with a start date confirmed, it is time to submit your permit applications. Ideally, permit submission should be done after the contract is signed, but sometimes tighter timelines requires submission beforehand. In Toronto, expect a permit processing time of approximately 8-9 weeks after submission. There will likely be a bit of back and forth between the Examiner and your Permit Designer/Architect so your designer partner must be getting the Examiner the required information as fast as possible to prevent being sent back to the bottom of their application pile.

Step 13: Time to Build!

With permits in hand and contracts signed, it’s time to start building your dream home!

By following this guide, you’ll be well-prepared to tackle the complexities of home building in Toronto and the GTA. Each step outlined above will help you to stay on track, on budget, and aligned with your goals, resulting in a successful and satisfying home construction project.

BVM Contracting is here to ensure you have a seamless home-building experience. If you are interested in speaking with a BVM Contracting representative about your new home build, garden suite/laneway suite build, home addition, multiunit conversion, or substantial home renovation project please reach out to us at contact@bvmcontracting.com.
About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
August 2, 2024
Required Electrical Upgrades For New Homes in Ontario

Required Electrical Upgrades for New Homes in Ontario

Learn more below about the 3 key electrical requirements for new home-building projects in Toronto and throughout Ontario. The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) is the governing body that ensures safety across all properties that are changing, altering, or upgrading their electrical system. An ESA inspections are required during any renovation or home-building project that is altering, changing, or upgrading any aspect of the home’s electrical system. Usually these inspections are included within the scope of the Electrician that your General Contractor or Home Builder is using for the project.

In speaking with our Electrician, there are three key electrical requirements for new home building projects that are now required, so if your scope of work with your builder currently doesn’t include any of the three then make sure you get them included!

Three Key Electrical Requirements for New Home Building Projects in Ontario

1. Minimum 200 Amp Panel and Service Installation. The code requirement is to install a minimum 200 Amp service and panel to a new home. This allows you to have plenty of capacity for future add-ons (hot tubs, EV charger, pool, etc.), which in turn future-proofs your home!

2. Interconnected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarms. A very important part of the ESA code is smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. It is a code requirement to have a certain number or smoke and Carbon Monoxide detectors based on the number of bedrooms and living space you have. Your permit drawings should highlight the required areas but when in doubt as your General Contractor or Home Builder. The most important things to note is that usually a combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide is installed with a strobe light that flashes when the alarm sounds (to fulfill the code requirements), and all of the Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Detectors need to be interconnected between one another (even between different units). This means that when one alarm triggers, they all trigger. As triggering as that sounds it is not a code requirement!

3. EV Charging Station Rough-in. It is now a requirement for your GC/Home builder to include an EV charger rough-in for your project. This is a newer requirement but nonetheless important when reviewing your new home building scope. If you don’t have an EV charger included then talk to your GC or Home Builder to get it included in your scope of work!

Conclusion

We will add to this list as we get more information from our electrician but we hope you found this article interesting! Feel free to browse through our other blog articles and webpages. We are an education-led home builder and General Contractor located in Toronto and firmly believe in giving our clients all of the information so they can make the most informed decision about their project.

If you are interested in speaking with a BVM Contracting representative about your new home build, home addition, or substantial home or business renovation project please reach out to us at contact@bvmcontracting.com.

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

July 11, 2024
Toronto’s New Major Streets Bylaw
Toronto’s New Major Streets Bylaw: Opening Up New Roads for Home Ownership in the City

Toronto, a bustling metropolis known for its diverse culture and vibrant neighborhoods, has long grappled with housing affordability issues. As a local construction company deeply rooted in Toronto’s urban development, we know the challenges facing individuals looking to live and work in Canada’s largest city.

A recent change in legislation through the Major Streets Bylaw, promises to shake up the housing landscape in a positive way. In this post, we’ll delve deeper into the details of the Major Streets Bylaw and explore how it’s poised to make a significant impact on housing in our city.
Understanding the Major Streets Bylaw

The “Major Streets Bylaw” aims to revitalize and enhance the urban fabric of the City of Toronto by encouraging the development of townhomes and small residential apartments along major streets. These major streets serve as vital arteries, connecting neighborhoods and fostering economic activity. The bylaw incentivizes the construction of new residential units, maximizing land use and creating vibrant, pedestrian-friendly environments. The aim is to create gentle density in low-rise neighbourhoods along major streets to allow for more housing along the major transportation corridors throughout Toronto. The other idea is to incorporate non-residential uses into these new apartments and townhomes to create more vibrant and diverse neighborhoods with new small businesses.

Here’s our take on the positive impact of this new zoning by-law, and what is means for those considering developing or buying property in Toronto.

1. Fueling Supply. Toronto’s housing market has long struggled with a supply-demand imbalance. The ‘Major Streets Bylaw provides a solution by unlocking untapped potential along our major arteries. By embracing more flexibility around development, we’re not just building structures; we’re crafting homes and communities, opening doors to more residents seeking affordable housing in popular neighbourhoods in Toronto.

2. Embracing Diversity. At BVM Contracting, we believe that diversity enriched communities. The ‘Major Streets Bylaw’ champions this ethos by fostering a range of housing options. From small apartments to townhomes, the bylaw encourages us to build spaces that reflect the varied lifestyles and aspirations of Torontonians, supporting greater access to housing on major transportation corridors in some of the most vibrant neighbourhoods in Toronto.

3. Bringing Amenities Closer. Convenience is key to a thriving neighborhood. By integrating more opportunity for residential spaces, the bylaw ensures that essential services are just steps away. From morning coffee to evening groceries, residents can enjoy the convenience of city living without sacrificing accessibility, enhancing the allure of homeownership in our developments.

4. Riding the Transit Wave. Toronto’s public transit network is the backbone of our city’s mobility. The ‘Major Streets Bylaw’ recognizes this and incentivizes transit-oriented development. By building density along transit corridors, we’re not just reducing carbon footprints; we’re crafting communities where homeowners can enjoy seamless connectivity and urban living at its finest.

5. Increasing Opportunities for Townhouses and Small Apartments. The Major Streets Bylaw presents an opportunity to diversify housing options by opening up new high and low-density residential development options. This opens avenues for developing townhouses and small apartments, catering to the evolving needs of residents. Such developments not only enhance housing affordability but also contribute to the fabric of vibrant, mixed-use neighborhoods.

Major Updates to the zoning Bylaw for major streets

With the Major Streets Bylaw the following updates are proposed, which will allow for a far greater amount of density on Major Streets in Toronto:
- Allowing RD, RT, RS, and RM zones to building townhomes and apartment buildings when they are located on major streets.
- The removal of maximum Floor Space Index (FSI) calculations when the property is located on a major street, thus allowing for maximized density on the lot
- The removal of amenity space requirements for apartments with 30 dwelling units or less being built on major streets
- You would be allowed to build more than one building on a lot that abuts a major street (more than one apartment/townhome or combination)
- The max number of dwelling units in an apartment abutting a major street is the greater number between 30 dwelling units and the numerical value following the letter “u” on the zoning bylaw map
- For an apartment located on a major street the maximum building height is 19 meters or the height value shown on the zoning bylaw map.
You can read more by reading the proposed bylaw amendments for the major streets bylaw here!

What streets are considered major streets in Toronto

There are a lot of streets that will be affected by the Major Streets Bylaw amendment, which you can see below. If you want to see the map in more detail you can check it out here.
Major Streets Bylaw Map

Conclusion

At BVM Contracting, we see the ‘Major Streets Bylaw’ as more than just legislation; it’s a catalyst for change, a blueprint for a more inclusive and vibrant Toronto. By embracing more flexible development laws along our major streets, we’re not just building structures; we’re building homes, communities, and futures. As we move forward, initiatives like the ‘Major Streets Bylaw’ will continue to shape the fabric of homeownership in our city, and we’re proud to be at the forefront of this transformative journey.

If you are interested in speaking with a BVM Contracting representative about your new home build, home addition, or substantial home or business renovation project please reach out to us at contact@bvmcontracting.com.

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
July 5, 2024
Finding a General Contractor Near Me

Finding a General Contractor Near Me in Toronto

the value of hiring a Local General Contractor

At BVM Contracting we understand that in the world of home renovations and home building the task of finding the right General Contractor for your project is tedious, time-consuming, and sometimes very complex. Due to the sometimes-overwhelming amount of money being spent on these projects, it is not surprising that it is a difficult process. To make sure you are on the right track in your General Contractor selection process, make sure that you are trying to target General Contractors local to your project, or at the very least do a lot of work in and around your neighbourhood. Let’s get into some of the reasons hiring a local General Contractor will benefit you and your project.

Hiring Local Reason #1: Proximity equals efficiency

For a moment, put yourself in a General Contractor or Home Builder’s shoes, would you rather be driving around a traffic-filled City for half of the day, or jumping from project site to project site with ease? This is an easily-answered question but sometimes people forget that there is a lot of efficiency in having project sites close to each other. It means that your General Contractor can schedule more meetings, organize their internal team better and have them do more work, and it also allows their team of subcontractors to get around to all of the job sites easier.

Hiring Local Reason #2: More Skin in The Game

If you ran a business and most of your work was in the area you live you would (whether it is subliminal or consciously) make sure that the service level you are providing is second-to-none. This is a psychological reason for hiring local, chances are your General Contractor knows many people in the neighbourhoods they are building in locally and also want to keep working in these neighbourhoods for years to come. The best way to keep working in these neighbourhoods to to build a great reputation, one worth referring! It is for this reason why you should for sure be on the lookout for the signs and trucks of builders that have completed multiple projects in your area. This is mainly how we have become one of the most sought-after home builders in Birchcliff, along with many other neighbourhoods in Scarborough and Toronto.

Hiring Local Reason #3: Responsiveness

You will find that when you start reaching out to General Contractors that the most responsive construction companies will be the ones that are relatively close to your project address. That is why when you are sending emails or filling out contact forms that you ALWAYS should populate the form with at least a postal code, and better yet the property address. This will allow the General Contractors you contact to evaluate if the project is in their service area or not and will lead to higher quality candidates to complete your work.

Conclusion

The General Contractors Near Me search is a good one to enter, it will allow you to investigate which Contractors are local to your project, and will more often than not lead to a higher quality pre-construction process, along with a better executed construction project. BVM Contracting’s service area is based in Eastern Toronto, but please reach out to us if you have any questions about a project in Toronto that we can help with. Even though we have a local service area, doesn’t mean that we cannot help you get on the right track for your project!

Reach out to us with any additional questions or inquiries you have!

If there are different questions you have than the ones listed above please reach out to us or leave a comment below! We would be happy to answer any of your questions to make sure you are hiring the right type of person for your residential renovation, home addition, or new home build project.

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

March 21, 2024
Why Contacting a General Contractor First Is Important
Talking to a General Contractor First Will Save You Time and Money

Many times a year we get home owners, real estate investors, and property owners reach out to us with proposed designs for their home renovation or home building projects in Toronto. Sometimes they even have the permit drawings in hand and are reaching out to a General Contractor for the first time. This is the exact opposite way you should be going through the process of completing residential construction.

Why should I reach out to a general Contractor First?

The reason is simple, why would you go through the design process without consulting the people who will inevitably be in charge of handling the outcome and costs of the work? A business owner wouldn’t make changes to their bookkeeping or business structure without consulting their accountant, and the same theory should apply with General Contractors.

Why don’t more people reach out to general Contractors first in their pre-construction process?

We think the reason why people do not consult General Contractors first is a three-fold problem:
1. General Contractors are historically not easy people to get information from if you are not committed to them in some way
2. It takes additional up-front effort to reach out to General Contractors before knowing if you are committed to moving forward into the design process
3. Designers and Architects are not incentivized to get clients to check with General Contractors about what the estimated costs might be for their proposed project, because it means that they may lose business because the client cannot afford the work.
How reaching out to BVM Contracting First Will save you time and money

BVM Contracting is changing the way people look at the pre-construction process in residential construction and make it very easy to reach out to us to better evaluate your project.

Since we have a dedicated sales and estimating team we make it very easy to get right the information you need in order to make the best decision about committing to a renovation or home building project. We do all of this work without asking for anything in return, we see our help and insight as a trust-building exercise that will allow people to naturally gravitate towards using our services once they can afford to complete their proposed work.

Not only will you get transparent advice and honest project costing feedback, but some of the other benefits of reaching out to us first is:
- We can evaluate your existing property to make sure that your proposed project is making the best use of your property/home. Sometimes people think they need a home addition when what they really need is a basement renovation, and we can listen to your needs and ask the right questions to make sure you are spending your money wisely.
- We have a trusted network of planning consultants, designers, architects, vendors, engineers, and HVAC designers that we can refer you to and make sure you are surrounded by people that are in the business for the right reasons and will offer transparent and honest advice.
- We can give you some upfront insight into what the potential roadblocks will be for your project, give you information into the process of obtaining a building permit, and what to expect during the pre-construction process for your particular project.
What is the biggest benefit of approaching a General Contractor first?

The largest benefit by far (and what people reach out to us the most about) is to understand what the costs will be for a certain type of project they want to complete. We allow people to stay in control during the pre-construction process by giving them the costs as early on in the process as possible so they know what they are getting into before committing to the design and permitting work for the project.

With the help of existing floor plans, home inspection reports, a discovery phone call, some detailed questions about the existing property, and a bunch of data gathered from pricing out all kinds of renovation and home building projects in Toronto we can very accurately estimate the construction costs for your project. This allows for you to make the ultimate decision of moving forward with the project design, or holding off until you can afford to complete the work. In either scenario it is a win for us because we are building trust and a network of potential projects for years to come.

Being an honest General Contractor is a slow burn but it is worth it when you get the same people coming back to you once they can afford to renovate or build and want to get your advice about what their next best step is.
About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
February 28, 2023
General Contractors Toronto
Home Improvement: How To Find a Good General Contractor

Learn about the role of a General Contractor for residential construction in Toronto to see if you should hire one for your next home renovation, home addition, custom or new home build, or Ancillary structure (Garden Suites and laneway suites)
For those of you new to residential construction, the Term “General Contractor” may seem a little ambiguous and foreign to you, and you are not wrong. The term General Contractor is used in a wide variety of industries to define a company that is hired to complete a multi-disciplinary project by contracting out and managing the work set out in the project scope.

Narrowing this down to residential construction, this defines a company that manages a multi-disciplinary project for a home. This could be a smaller project like a basement renovation, all the way up to a custom home build or home addition. Irrespective of the size the project presents a unique list of project requirements that cannot and should not be completed all by one person, there needs to be multiple companies that are contracted (i.e. subcontractors) to complete certain sections of the work to ensure the residential construction project is completed properly. A General Contractor ensures that the right subcontractors are hired and manages the project from beginning to end, working with the home owner (i.e. the client) to deal with project logistics, selections, timelines and ultimately controlling costs (and mitigating cost overruns) to deliver a project that is on time and on budget.

In layman’s terms, the role of a Residential General Contractor in Toronto is to plan, execute, and manage a complex renovation or home building project on behalf of the client (i.e. the home owner or investor) to ensure that the project comes in on time and on budget.
When looking for a General Contractor to hire in Toronto, here are some common avenues to look through:
- Referrals – If you know a friend or family member who has completed a home renovation, home addition, or custom home build in Toronto and their project went well you should ask for the General Contractor’s Information
- Google Search – Many reputable General Contractors in Toronto have a good online presence and informative websites to review their capabilities. We have about 50-60% of our business each year come from completely new clients that were not referred to us by previous customers. They either found us online or through one of our social channels.
- Local General Contractors Near Me – Is there a General Contractor in your neighbourhood right now completing a project? Or one that lives near you? If so don’t be shy and ask for a business card or take a picture of the marketing material they have on the project site. Many of our past clients have done this and were also able to tour through the project site as well. This method is how we have gained many clients because they can see how the existing project progresses to see the speed, quality, and professionalism of the company.
- Company Vehicles – chances are if you keep seeing the same company driving up and down the streets that you do that they are local to that area of the City. A little known fact that should be more well known is that service businesses tend to want to work more in their own backyards so if they live and work near you chances are you will get better communication, better pricing, and overall a better experience dealing with a General Contractor near you.
If you are dealing with a reputable General Contractor in Toronto here are some minimum expectations you should have as a home owner/investor:
- Prompt Communication – Chances are if you are hearing from your General Contractor every other day or once a week they are not set-up to communicate effectively during your project. Make sure who you are dealing with is responsive and can actually help you through the process, that is what a General Contractor is there for!
- Honest Advice and Transparency – If your General Contractor is not challenging you and giving you real advice for your project then they are not doing your project justice. Planning is 75% of the work with home renovations and home builds so if they are not putting in the work and engaging with your idea then drop them then and there. Walk away from the “take it or leave it” General Contractors, your project will not end well.
- Step-by-Step Guidance – If Everest Peak is your project’s finish line then think of your General Contractor as your guide who has made the trek dozens (if not hundreds) of times. Lean on your General Contractor to figure out your next best step in the planning and home building process because chances are they have the experience to guide you through whatever comes your way before, during, and after the project.
- Preliminary Budgeting Review – If you are just starting to plan your renovation or home building project you should be working with a reputable and knowledgeable General Contractor that can provide you with a realistic budget for your desired project. They should have the experience to estimate your project’s costs with or without preliminary plans (although having plans is more accurate), and actually give you a breakdown of costs.
- Professional and Detailed Scope of Work – If your General Contractor is not willing to give a budget breakdown for all of the steps involved in a home renovation, home addition, or home building project, then drop them. There are too many opportunities for cost savings at every step of a project and if they aren’t willing to work with you to try to reduce costs then they are not the General Contractor for you.
- Warranty – Having a warranty is one thing, but actually fulfilling it is another. It is important to have the peace of mind knowing that anything that goes wrong after the contract is completed will be covered for a certain duration after the project. We will get into this in the next section in a bit more detail.
- In-house Team – A General Contractor that has an internal team that can help keep projects moving between all of the difference subcontractors is very important. A GC with an in-house team is able to complete your project more efficiently than a project manager managing your home renovation, home addition, or custom home build.
The following list outlines what you will want to ask for from a Residential General Contractor in Toronto. Fulfilling this list will mean that you have a high degree of certainty that you are dealing with a company that will be able to complete your project on time and on budget.
1. Renovation or Home Building Contract – The sooner you can review the better so ask for it once you get the budgeting process started to make sure there are no hidden clauses or contradicting information.
2. References (very important!) – Your soon-to-be General Contractor should have no problem putting together a list of past projects/clients that are similar in scope to yours (usually we give a list of 3). Make sure you ask the past clients about how it was working with the General Contractor, if the company has been able to fulfill their warranty, if they were on time and on budget, and overall how it was dealing with the project logistics. Remember that no project goes perfectly so you should definitely ask if there were any issues (major or minor), but even more importantly what the General Contractor did to solve the issues that presented themselves.
3. Insurance and WSIB – Make sure you ask for and review these items to make sure they are covered and no liability can be shifted to you during the project. As a side note, whenever completing renovation work always check with your insurance company to make sure you are covered in the event of fire or any other events.
4. A fully procured project budget – This is ultimately what sets apart the reputable General Contractors in Toronto from the rest. If your GC can give you certainty that the budget that you have given them is finalized and has been reviewed by each subcontractor then you know that your General Contractor is well-respected by their subcontractors, organized, and ready to start your project! If you don’t have a budget that is procured expect increases to your overall budget over the length of the project.
This one is very easy because they are usually one in the same! A home builder is a General Contractor that specializes in building homes. It is the same as asking if a home renovation company is the same as a General Contractor – many times they are, as long as they are dealing with multi-disciplinary projects and subcontracting aspects of the renovation project.
This list of project types would be very long, but we have narrowed down the list to some of the more multi-disciplinary projects that are commonly completed by a General Contractor in Toronto and that BVM Contracting has completed or in the process of budgeting:
Conclusion

We hope that we have helped answer some questions you had about General Contractors in Toronto, if you have any additional questions feel free to reach out and we can help get your project started!

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
January 9, 2023
Toronto Home Renovation Tips and Tricks

11 Home Renovation Tips and Tricks for Toronto Homeowners

Being in the home renovation industry in Toronto for the last 25+ years has taught us some valuable lessons on how to effectively and efficiently complete home renovation projects (big and small). Learn more below about some tips and tricks for ensuring that your next renovation project is a success.

Tip #1: Hire an engineer versus a designer for load-bearing wall removals

This one is a pretty helpful one because many times your structural engineer will be able to submit your permits for you in the same way that a designer or architect would, you will just be paying the engineer directly versus paying a marked up price from the designer or architect. The General Contractor you are going to work with will know an engineer to use so make sure you ask them if they could refer you to them to get the engineering completed and submitted to the City for permit.

Tip #2: Do not accept renovation cost estimates that only have one price

If your renovation company is not willing it itemize the cost of the project for you chances are not a very transparent company. Before you sign anything with a renovation company in Toronto, be sure to get a breakdown of costs to better understand where you are spending the money. The added benefit of itemized budgeting is that you can complete progress draws with your General Contractor instead of giving your renovation contractor random amounts of money that may not line up to the actual amount of work done.

Tip #3: Always ask for references

It sounds crazy but we’ve had to stop some of our clients from signing on with us till after they spoke to some of our previous clients. Sometimes people are so sure of something that they forget to practice due diligence. Most times it is fine if you are dealing with a Reputable General Contractor in Toronto but even if you are it is valuable to learn from past clients about the experience and what to expect.

Tip #4: Avoid Hiring friends or family for your renovation project

We’ve had to intervene on a few of these types of projects where a client gave one of their friends or family “a chance”. The problem with giving people a chance is you are usually given some sort of discount (or free labour) which leads to poor quality or a neglected project. It goes back to the concept of “good, fast, and cheap – you can only have two”, it is up to you if you want to get the project done fast and well or take your chances. Based on our experience with past projects the former almost always prevails.

Tip #5: Plan your project well in advance

Most renovation companies in Toronto worth their weight will not be able to take on your renovation project next month, it will likely be more like next quarter or next year. It is for this reason why you should be reaching out to a renovation contractor in Toronto as soon as you know you can afford and plan a renovation project. There are a lot of details that are missed with home renovations that could have been dealt with before the project started, and it is up to your General Contractor to educate you and ask the right questions before getting you on their project schedule.

Tip #6: Hire a local renovation company

If you are planning a home renovation in Scarborough you should not be hiring someone who lives on the West End of the City to renovate your home. Instead, hire a renovation contractor in Scarborough to take on your Scarborough renovation project! It is very likely that if your Contractor is working locally that they will be able to manage your project better and deal with anything that comes up more easily because they live 10-15 minutes away instead of 1-2 hours away.

Tip #7: Finalize your client-managed spending before committing

Many times your hired Renovation Contractor or General Contractor will give you a list of items that will need to be bought by you for the project to be completed. At BVM Contracting, we supply a comprehensive list of client-managed materials and items that will be needed during your home renovation, but at the end of the day it is up to our clients what their final selections are. If you want to spend $12.5 per square foot on hardwood have at it, but make sure it is budgeted and accounted for so you have enough money by the end of the project.

Tip #8: No plumbing additions, no structural work, no HVAC alternations, no permit

Note that if you are not adding plumbing fixtures, completing structural work, or adjusting the HVAC you will likely not need to pull out a permit for your renovation project. You would be able to get right into the work but make sure you still follow the same steps if you are planning on working with a General Contractor.

Tip #9: For the hands-on folk – ask to manage aspects of the home renovation

Don’t be afraid to ask your General Contractor or Home Renovation Company about what you can do to help bring the costs down. A lot of the time the best way to do this is to put some sweat equity into the project versus using hired or subcontracted labour. BVM Contracting has done this numerous times with a lot of success for our renovation projects in Toronto, but only for certain portions of the project.

Tip #10: Make sure you leave some money at the end for deficiencies/final holdback

Many times there is a good lump of money that your General Contractor should leave till the end of the project that gives you assurance that all of the minor details in the renovation project are dealt with. This varies from one renovation contractor to another but expect to holdback around 5-7.5 % of the total contractor-managed value for the final invoice/payment. Make sure in the renovation contract that the holdback amount is stipulated as well!

Tip #11: Retain Independent Legal Advice Before Signing a Renovation Contract

This is usually mentioned in any good renovation contract but is seldom utilized by homeowners from our experience. It is always good to get someone with your interests in mind to review a contract of any large value to ensure it is written to protect you and is fair.

Conclusion

These are only some of the tips and tricks that we recommend to ensure a successful renovation project in Toronto. It is important to also work with a renovation company that puts education first and will help guide you along the process so that when it comes time to commit you feel like you are making the right decision of which renovation contractor to work with.

About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.

August 22, 2022
Prevent Delays for your Custom Home Building Project in Toronto
Learn More Preventing Potential Delays with your Custom Home Builder in Toronto

One of the most common topics that is discussed during the budgeting process is about the timing of getting a project completed. Our answer is the same to everyone asking the question, it depends on how much effort is put in during the planning process. A lot of the time people underestimate how much planning is involved with a custom home build, there are many selections and items that need to be decided upon even before the project starts to prevent any delays during the home build. As a General Contractor that specializes in custom home building, we have narrowed down some of the key items that allow our projects to come in on time all of the time.
Items and Activities to Prevent Custom Home Building Delays

Below we have outlined the key activities that need to be focused on in order to start a project and keep it moving.
1. Utility Disconnections (specifically with Enbridge Gas Disconnections)
  
  This is by far the most important item that needs to be completed as soon as you know you are completing a new home build or custom home build in Toronto. Enbridge will need to provide a quote to remove the gas meter and lines from your property, as well as schedule a date to lock out the meter and do the disconnection work. From first contact to getting the disconnection can take up to 3 months so make sure you get this started ASAP!
2. Working with a Good Surveyor for Construction Surveying Work
  
  Usually the surveyor that has provided you your topographic survey will provide the services required for your custom home building project. They will be needed during the foundation and framing stage to ensure that the elevations of the house are correct. Having a team that can get this work done in a timely manner will ensure no delays at the start of the project when closing in the house is so important.
3. Having an Engineer on retainer to complete site visits/stamped reports whenever The City Inspectors are busy
  
  We have found this to be a very powerful tool to avoid being at the will of City Inspectors. We usually have our Engineer to a formal review of our new home building projects at the framing stage so they can review the foundation, steel, and structural framing all at the same time and complete a report with a stamp passing the work. 100% of the time we show this to a City inspector and they give us a pass on the framing stage. Saves a lot of time and stress in our experience!
4. Finalized Window and Door Orders BEFORE project starts
  
  Due to the consistent 12-16 week lead times for windows and doors (especially with large orders that custom homes in Toronto usually have) it is important to have a finalized windows and door schedule that is put in for order BEFORE the project starts. It takes about 12-16 weeks to get to the point where the windows are needed (sometimes sooner if your General Contractor has a good team and a lot of experience) so getting the order in before the project starts is highly beneficial to preventing delays with the project. The windows need to be installed before any exterior work is completed so preventing this delay mean that the project can avoid any delays in finishing the exterior.
5. Finalized truss design and ordering BEFORE project starts
  
  Since more complex truss packages take anywhere from 6-8 weeks to produce it is important to get them into production as soon as they are approved. We like to get them into production 2-4 weeks before the project starts so there is plenty of buffer for having them ready to ship come time to frame.
6. Appliance Package Ordering
  
  It is not out of the question to have an appliance package that takes 6-12 months to complete, some of our clients can give you some examples! Best to have this sorted out before the project starts so you are stuck without appliances when it comes time to move in. The added bonus to getting this sorted out is you will need it to finalize your kitchen layout with your preferred kitchen installer, so it will be needed sooner rather than later!
7. Plumbing Fixture Selections (specifically with shower hardware and Bathtubs)
  
  We send our clients to a local plumbing vendor for all of the proposed fixtures outline in their custom home building design. It is important to understand exactly what you are planning to install and the quantity so that our plumber can properly quote the project. It is even more important to have the shower fixtures and bathtubs ordered BEFORE plumbing rough-ins start so our plumber can install the rough-in valves and bathtubs as they complete their rough-in work.
8. General Tip: Source finishes with smaller lead time
  
  Almost all of our vendors are local to Toronto and have good stock and lead times for their finishes. Whether you are picking out lighting, tile, flooring, or anything else it is always important to ask about lead time along with pricing. Make a list of items and their lead times so you can ensure that the finishes are on site when they need to be. Your General Contractor or Home Builder in Toronto will give you tentative dates that finishes will be needed to help guide your decision making and ordering.
This list is specific to Toronto and may change depending on the municipality, so always check with your Home Builder, vendors, and utility providers to see if there are any additional tasks required.

Conclusion

As much as the list above looks like a daunting set of tasks, if you are working with the right custom home builder in Toronto they will guide you fluently through the process. Having a good pre-construction planning process is the key indicator of success for a project so do not skip this step and listen to your home builder, you will not regret it!
About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
August 19, 2022
Procurement-Based Renovation and Home Building Budgets
Learn More About Our Procurement-Based Budgeting Process

At BVM Contracting we understand that home renovation, custom home building, and home addition projects are expensive and require a lot of capital to complete. Many times when you are working with General Contractors in Toronto, they will help you estimate the cost of your project but won’t go so far as to finalize everything with their preferred list of vendors and subcontractors before a contract is signed. This leads to underestimations and unmet expectations about total project costs.

As a Family-run General Contractor in Toronto, the last thing we want is to start a project that cannot be finished. This does not benefit our clients and does not lead to a good reputation in the industry. In the sections below we outline our budgeting process and how we take the extra steps needed BEFORE any contracts are signed to give our clients the peace of mind to work with us and complete their project on time and on budget.
What is procurement-based budgeting?

Procurement-based budgeting is a term that we use to describe how we finalize our renovation or custom home building budgets. It is a multi-step process that includes:
1. Developing a detailed scope of work from working drawings that describes the construction work that will be completed. This is an itemized description of our activities to complete a project from beginning to end (or beginning to whenever a client takes over). This requires the client to have a set of designs/drawings that outline the work to be completed.
2. Coordinating a site visit to the project site (mostly for renovation and home addition projects, new home construction projects don’t need site visits most times unless there are environmental factors (ravine protection, tree protection, shoring) that may be needed)
3. Working with our subcontractors and vendors to finalize selections within the scope of work to get our clients the most accurate budget with finalized quotes from all of our subcontractors and vendors. This requires some legwork from our clients to decide on certain selections for a project (i.e. plumbing fixtures, doors selections, flooring, etc.) but pays off in the end with a finalized budget with a representative cost. Even if the selections are changed as the project moves along, at least the pricing is based on something instead of nothing.
Our goal with every project we budget is to have as many of the line items with what we call “confirmed pricing” before signing any contract. We do this so we can show you our capabilities as a General Contractor and to also ensure that we can reduce the amount of extras and change orders needed throughout the course of the residential construction project. Whether it is a $200 000 renovation or a 1.6 million dollar custom home build, the same process applies and leads to a lot of happy clients.

Conclusion

Although our final budgets will take longer to put together and will likely cost more than other General Contractors in Toronto, at least you will know that it is representative to the total cost of the project, and will know exactly what you are getting. We take a lot of pride in our reputation as a Custom Home Builder and Home Renovation company in Toronto, so we would rather lose out on work because it is accurate than win work because the pricing is not finalized.
About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
August 9, 2022
The Secret Ingredient for a Successful Renovation or Custom Home Build
The Best General Contractors in Toronto Have A Great Team Backing Them Up

Learn more about why having an in-house team as a general contractor is the secret sauce for delivering on time and on budget every time
delivering a better renovation or custom home building experience with in-house expertise

General Contractors in Toronto have proven that the concept of specialization can lead to the boom of an entire industry. Being able to have specialist carry out work instead of one person doing multiple jobs is how the concept of General Contracting became such a popular way complete complex custom home builds and home renovation projects. With this concept you are able to complete projects faster, with more quality, and at a reasonable price if you are dealing with the right General Contractor.

Specialization doesn’t just apply to sub-contractors carrying out work for a General Contractor, it also applies to the employees working for the General Contractor. In this article you will learn about the value of specialization within a General Contracting company in Toronto and how it will help you ultimately make the right decision on which General Contractor to hire for your next residential construction project.

Specialization within a General Contracting Company

At BVM Contracting, there are 4 distinct specializations that you will find within our company. Now we aren’t saying that it is the only way to run a General Contracting Company in Toronto, but we have seen a lot of success and have received a lot of good feedback from prospective, current, and past clients about our capabilities from beginning to end as a General Contractor. Below the specializations are highlighted and the benefits explained:
1. Dedicated Sales and Estimating Team – To separate sales from service is a pretty rudimentary concept that leads to a lot of benefits. What you get with this is a dedicated touch point to start your journey with your prospective General Contractor, active/regular communication, and a detailed scope of work and budget that is easy to follow and is explained from beginning to end. At BVM Contracting this “team” comprises of one person, but allows us to actively take care of people in the discovery, estimating, or budget finalization phase of their project.
2. Dedicated Project Administration Staff – To ask questions during a project and get answers back the same day is something that should be expected but is often not delivered upon. Most times the project manager running your renovation or custom home building project is too busy during the day to answer emails and keep all of the project logistics on track. This is where the project administration staff comes in, they keep clients updated on the project and make sure that there is an electronic link between your inquiries and the project manager’s inquiries. At BVM Contracting, everything has a paper trail and with good reason – Home Building and Home Renovation projects are dynamic and can change as you move along, so you need someone who can actively explain those changes via email and provide solutions via email to allow the project to keep moving forward with minimal delays.
3. Dedicated Skilled Labour Team – Other General Contractors might find the cheapest, most untrained labourers, but at BVM Contracting we call them the minutemen, and for good reason. One of the key reasons we can get projects done faster than the many other General Contractors in Toronto is because we have a team of SKILLED labour (emphasis on skilled) that can do the myriad of tasks in between all of the sub-contractors we hire from beginning to end to make sure that the project is delivered on time and on budget. We cannot stress enough how important having a SKILLED team of labourers is for a General Contractor to deliver on every project, so if any of the General Contractors that you are talking to don’t have one then they are not going to deliver on your renovation or custom home build.
4. Dedicated Project Management Staff – Having a project manager seems to be a minimum requirement nowadays to call yourself a General Contractor in Toronto, but the fact of the matter is it takes more than just a good Project Manager to deliver a project to the standards of a true General Contracting company. It is so valuable to have a dedicated touch point for the in-house team, subcontractors, and vendors to call to, but it is equally important to relay all project information in a timely manner and with accuracy to ensure the project nears perfection. Having a team alongside a project manager brings everything together and creates a successful General Contractor.
It also doesn’t hurt if your General Contractor is Family-owned, brownie points for that!

Conclusion

The next time you are evaluating General Contractors in Toronto, make sure you understand how their internal processes work in order to make sure that they will be able to deliver for your renovation or custom home building project!
About BVM COntracting

BVM Contracting is a full-service General Contractor or Home Builder located in Toronto. We provide home renovation and building services for major home renovations (kitchen renovations, bathroom renovations, basement renovations, full interior renovations, home additions, lot severances, and new home construction). Our goal is to help guide our clients through the process of renovating their home, from concept to completion.

Further than providing General Contracting and Project Management for major home renovations, we also offer value-added services such as renovation financing, renovation rebate consultations and services, building permit and design services, smart home installation services, and real estate investor services.

To learn more about our offering by visiting our services page.
August 3, 2022