Why should I hire a coach vs watching DIY how-to videos?
A coach can save you time and money by giving you personalized information needed for your project instead of going down the internet rabbit hole looking for “how to videos” that have little to no relevance to your specific project. Saving you countless trips to the lumber store, to getting the right materials the first time, to doing the job properly.
What if I don’t have any experience?
That’s where a coaching service will be beneficial. We’ll teach you how to do a particular task, or possibly many tasks, then we’ll do a few practice runs. Depending on your skill, we might even need to teach you how to read a tape measure. If you measure 3 times, check your marking twice, you’ll only need to cut once. If you put your mind to it, along with the right coaching, you can do anything.
What do I need to do if there’s electrical or plumbing work to be done?
You’ll need a permit by law and you’ll need to hire a licensed electrician or plumber to do that part of the job for you. We can coach you through that process, as to what you need to know when applying for a permit. You’ll want to be there with your electrician or plumber when the inspector comes to sign off on the permit in the event there are any issues. When your permit is signed off, you can then finish off the walls, cabinets, flooring or whatever it may be, yourself.
What do I need to do if there’s a wall that needs to be removed?
First you’ll need a permit by law. It is recommended that you hire that portion of the job out to a skilled and insured contractor to complete that task. We can coach you through that process, as to what you need to know when applying for a permit. You’ll want to be there with your contractor when the inspector comes to sign off on the permit in the event there are any issues. When your permit is signed off, you can then carry on closing up the walls… drywall, paint, install cabinets or whatever is needed.
What happens if “Reno DIY” can’t come up with a solution to my project?
Before we begin, we’ll have a phone consultation where we’ll discuss your skill level, then we’ll gather as much information about your project with measurements, sketches, plans, pictures, videos… And if for whatever reason it’s beyond our scope to coach you, or if there are safety concerns or if the project exceeds your skill level, we will pass on the project and strongly suggest you hire a skilled contractor in your area to do the job for you. There’s no cost to you if we don’t move forward with the project.
How do I know if I need a permit or not?
This is where coaching can go a long way. In general if it’s a cosmetic renovation – no permit is needed. If part of your renovation requires structural work to be done, a permit is required by law. If there’s Plumbing, Electrical or HVAC work to be done, a permit is required by law in Canada.
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