{"id":8914,"date":"2015-09-24T12:06:00","date_gmt":"2015-09-24T12:06:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/301webdemo.com\/oegema\/?p=8914"},"modified":"2026-03-12T10:12:53","modified_gmt":"2026-03-12T10:12:53","slug":"home-renovations-how-to-manage-costs-choose-a-contractor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/blog\/home-renovations-how-to-manage-costs-choose-a-contractor\/","title":{"rendered":"Home Renovations: How to Manage Costs &#038; Choose a Contractor"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"8914\" class=\"elementor elementor-8914\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-260ad659 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"260ad659\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-df196c8 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"df196c8\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"excerpt\">Your home is your sanctuary; your escape from the hectic world outside its doors. Of course, when you\u2019re having work done on your house, that can turn things upside down for a while. And the final result is so often worth it; not only do you end up with the look you want, renovations to your home can greatly increase the value of your property when you end up selling it. However, if things aren\u2019t managed correctly, home renos can also put you in a financial hole that could be difficult to dig out of \u2013 or a mismanaged renovation that adds a good dose of stress to your solitude. Here are some tips to help you make sure the project is nicely on track, before a hammer is lifted. \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p><h2>Choosing a Contractor:<\/h2><p>Choosing the right person to head up your renovation project is crucial to ensure that it remains on time and on budget. Here are a few pieces of advice to keep things moving along smoothly.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e36ba04 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"e36ba04\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Don\u2019t rush into your choice, and meet with at least three contractors. In the Capital Region, there are more contractors and renovation companies than you could imagine. Take the time to meet with a few to see what the differences between them are.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eee9bda elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"eee9bda\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Ask the contractor to provide references, and do the leg work of following up with those people. It\u2019s a good idea to even ask for clients of theirs that they are working with now, or had worked with very recently.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0fd34fa elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"0fd34fa\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Never pay the full costs upfront. There are some really great, professionals out there in the renovation industry. However, like almost any trades, there are a few bad apples out there who have no moral issue exploiting trusting homeowners. 10% of the total project cost is a fairly standard down payment on the project, though that may fluctuate depending on the scope of the project and materials cost. For the balance, work out a payment schedule with the contractor, and get it in writing, based on completion of portions of the project.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Make sure everything is in the contract. If you really trust the contractor that you\u2019ve chosen, you may not see this as necessary, however, it\u2019s pragmatic to make sure that everything is in writing.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Verify contractor\u2019s licenses and make sure they are using licensed pros for specialty work. The average general contractor is not a licensed plumber or an electrician. Jobs like these are the domains of licensed specialists who do the work day-in and day-out. Make sure that the person doing your work is properly licensed and experience.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Ensure that permits are pulled. Many home reno projects require permits from the local government before any work is done. For those in Ottawa, check out the city\u2019s guide here: <a href=\"https:\/\/ottawa.ca\/en\/planning-development-and-construction\/building-and-renovating\/do-i-need-building-permit\/submitting-building-permit-applications-and-issuance-building-permits\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Do I Need a Building Permit?<\/a> If you live elsewhere in Eastern Ontario, check in with your local municipality as regulations may differ.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Stay in contact, but don\u2019t be overbearing. If the crew is working during the day while you\u2019re at the office, make sure you keep in regular contact with them. By the same token, by following a proper vetting process, you can have some faith that your hired contractor is responsible enough to work hard, and let you know when decisions are needed.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7b7bfb5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7b7bfb5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Financing your renovation:<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ffdec28 elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"ffdec28\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Set aside a contingency fund. Even with the most thorough plan possible, cost overruns are possible. Build this into the budget of the project (10-15% is a good starting point) so that things aren\u2019t thrown wildly off track if the project turns up an issue.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Explore rebates and grants for energy-saving, \u201cgreen\u201d renos. Both the province and the municipality offer a variety of credits and rebates for healthy homes. Here\u2019s a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theglobeandmail.com\/globe-investor\/personal-finance\/taxes\/buying-or-renovating-a-home-look-for-cash-back-from-the-taxman\/article18666717\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">good article as a starting point<\/a>. There are also rebates offered by the provincial government for items such as high-efficiency furnaces, low-flow toilets, and other items designed for energy efficiency.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Resist putting more into the home than you\u2019ll get out of it. Even if you have the nicest house on the block, your home\u2019s eventual sale price could be limited by the neighbourhood you\u2019re in \u2013 so if you plan to sell in the short or medium-term, be conscious that there might be a limit to what you can get out of a house by what you put in.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"27\" height=\"26\" viewBox=\"0 0 27 26\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M25.025 14.4289C24.064 19.2336 20.4413 23.7577 15.3579 24.7687C12.8786 25.2624 10.3068 24.9614 8.00858 23.9084C5.71037 22.8554 3.80294 21.1043 2.5579 18.9042C1.31285 16.7041 0.79365 14.1673 1.07423 11.655C1.35481 9.14267 2.42086 6.78291 4.12059 4.91171C7.6069 1.07178 13.4936 0.0147454 18.2984 1.93663\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><path d=\"M8.68945 12.5069L13.4942 17.3116L25.0255 4.81934\" stroke=\"#E8792A\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\">Speak to your insurance broker about the insurance implications of the project. Some renovations, remodels, home improvement projects or additions are likely to affect your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/home-insurance\/\">home insurance<\/a> policy. As an example, you may be eligible for a reduced premium in the case of a new roof installation; on the other hand, if you significantly upgrade a room like your kitchen, there could be much more value there that your current policy is not accounting for. Speak to your broker and make sure you have a handle on how your project will affect your home insurance policy before you dive in headfirst.<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0b81bcd elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"0b81bcd\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Choose Wisely:<\/h2><p>To sum up, take your time to do your research and don\u2019t rush into making a decision on a contractor. And always thoroughly consider the financial and insurance implications of a large-scale investment in your home\u2019s value. In the Capital Region and Eastern Ontario, be sure to touch base with your\u00a0financial advisor\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/\">insurance broker<\/a>\u00a0before kicking off any project. Thanks for reading, The ONA Team.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Get summer-ready with our 2022 cottage checklist. From safety to comfort, Oegema, Nicholson &amp; Associates helps you prep your getaway\u2014read the checklist today!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":8916,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30,29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-8914","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-insurance-advice","category-financial-planning"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8914","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8914"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8914\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17439,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8914\/revisions\/17439"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8916"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8914"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8914"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ona.ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8914"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}