How to Hire a Trade in BC: A Homeowner's Step-by-Step Guide

Hiring a trade for a home project in BC goes well when you follow a process: define the job, check the business, compare written quotes, put the agreement in writing, and pay in stages. The biggest predictor of a good outcome is not the price you start with — it is following those steps in order.

Define the job before you talk to anyone

Before you call anyone, write down what you want done and what finished looks like. Send the same written scope to every business you contact so the quotes describe the same job and you are comparing prices, not guesses.

• What is being repaired, replaced, installed, or built, and where on the property.
• The materials or products you want, or a note that the contractor supplies them.
• The timeline you need, including any date that cannot move.
• Who removes and disposes of old materials and cleans up.
• What is excluded — for example, painting after drywall, or repairing rot found behind a wall.
• Your budget range, so the contractor can tell you if the scope is realistic.

Check credentials before you compare prices

A low price from a business that is not insured or licensed is not a low price. Ask for the documents, then verify them with the authority that issues them. Our guide How to Check a BC Contractor's Licence and Insurance walks through each check in detail.

• Business identity: the legal or business name and a real business address, not just a phone number.
• Liability insurance: a current certificate of insurance for the business.
• Workers' coverage: if the business has employees or uses subcontractors, ask for proof it is registered with WorkSafeBC. A clearance letter confirms the business is registered and paying its premiums.
• Licences: most gas and electrical work in BC must be done by qualified people employed by a licensed contractor. You can search for licensed contractors on the Technical Safety BC website.
• Permits: ask who pulls each permit, who pays for it, and who books the inspections — and get those answers into the contract.

Get everything in writing

In BC, a home renovation contract where the work is not done right away or you do not pay in full up front is usually a future performance contract. The law requires specific information to be in it, including the supplier's legal or business name, a detailed description of the work, the date it will be provided or completed, an itemized price, and the payment terms and schedule. Ask to review the full contract before you sign, and keep the copy you are given. Put changes, warranties, and anything the quote did not cover in writing too.

Pay in stages, never in full up front

Your payment schedule must be stated in the contract, and you can ask for payments tied to completed milestones rather than calendar dates. That way you always pay for work that has actually been done. A deposit to reserve materials and a spot on the schedule is normal; paying the entire price before the work is finished is not.

• A modest deposit when you sign, with the contract stating what it covers.
• A payment when demolition or rough-in is complete, if the job has those stages.
• A payment when the main work is complete and any required inspections have passed.
• A final payment after a walk-through confirms the job is done.
• Hold back enough at the end to matter until every deficiency on your list is fixed.

During and after the work

Changes happen on almost every project. Before extra work starts, write down what is changing and what it costs, and have both sides agree to it. Take dated photos as the work progresses, walk through the finished job with the contractor and list every deficiency in writing, and keep the receipts, permits, inspection records, and warranty documents together in one file.

Red flags worth pausing for

• Someone arrives unannounced and pressures you to decide on the spot, quoting a price that sounds too good to be true.
• A cash-only deal with no receipt and no written contract.
• No business address, no licence or insurance documents, and no willingness to put a quote in writing.
• A large deposit demanded before any materials are ordered or work is scheduled, especially to a personal account.
• A contractor who says permits are not needed or offers to skip an inspection, especially for gas or electrical work.

Where to start in Kelowna

Start with the trade pages in this directory: write the scope once, send it to every business you shortlist, and ask each one for a written quote before you compare prices. Check the credentials each business provides, and for gas or electrical work confirm the contractor's licence with Technical Safety BC. A short, organized hiring process is the best protection you can give yourself on a Kelowna home project.