Hiring Guide
How to Choose a Construction Contractor in Oxford County
Seven questions every Woodstock, Tillsonburg, and Ingersoll homeowner should ask before signing a construction contract.
February 18, 2026 · 8 min read
The wrong contractor will cost you more than money We get called in to fix unfinished jobs more often than we'd like. The pattern is almost always the same: lowest bid, no written contract, no permits.
1. Are you licensed and insured? Ask for a copy of liability insurance and WSIB. A real contractor produces it within an hour.
2. Can you show me three local references? Names, addresses, phone numbers. If they hesitate, walk away.
3. Who pulls the permits? Permits should be the contractor's responsibility. If they're asking you to pull them as the homeowner, they're shifting liability to you.
4. What's your written warranty? A serious contractor offers a written workmanship warranty of at least 12 months.
5. How do you handle changes? Changes happen. The right answer is "every change goes through a written change order before work begins."
6. What's your payment schedule? Reasonable: 10–15% deposit, progress draws tied to milestones, 10% holdback to closing. Unreasonable: 50% upfront.
7. Are you the one doing the work? Many "contractors" are middlemen. Ask who's actually on site daily.
We're happy to answer all seven questions on the first call. 226-239-0239.