BY PETER SIMPSON, SPECIAL TO THE SUN November 5, 2011 It amazes me how safety-conscious parents constantly warn their darling children to not run with scissors, jump off furniture or stick straws up their noses, yet they allow some stranger to renovate or repair their houses without checking to see if he is compliant with WorkSafeBC regulations. Falling off a six-metre ladder, then doing a face plant on to a concrete sidewalk, will definitely leave a painful mark, and might burden the homeowner with substantial health care and loss-of-income costs. You see, if a homeowner hires a contractor who is not covered by Work-SafeBC, and a worker is injured - or worse - the authorities will likely place the responsibility squarely on the homeowner. Scary stuff, huh? Sure, I suppose you could take a chance that nothing will happen at your house, or would you rather learn how to protect yourself from a possible home-improvement nightmare? To help homeowners demystify the renovation process and make more informed decisions, the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association - in partnership with BC Hydro, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp. and FortisBC - is presenting another of its popular home-renovation seminars. To be held Nov. 22 at the Croatian Cultural Centre in Vancouver, the seminar will guide attendees through the various stages of the renovation process, including design and planning, legal and contracts, selecting a renovator, municipal permits and inspections, and living through a renovation. Presenters at the 90-minute seminar include award-winning renovation contractors, a construction lawyer, municipal building official, and a technical expert sharing the latest in green technology. Condominium owners contemplating renovations to their units will learn about the special considerations often imposed by strata councils and their management companies. Approval is required for any renovations affecting other condo owners or common property in the building. Attendees will also learn about Reno-Mark. To be accepted into this industry-led national program, contractors are obliged to abide by a 10-condition code of conduct. Infractions are taken seriously. If contractors don't play by the rules, they risk being turfed from the program until they comply. An exhibition area - featuring more than 40 RenoMark renovators and suppliers of home-improvement products and services - will be open from 5: 30 to 7: 30 p.m. to allow homeowners ample time to discuss their renovation plans with the experts before the seminar program begins. Although builders consider a new home to be the ultimate renovation, what with all the new products and leading-edge technology available these days, folks are spending big bucks to give makeovers to their tired, poorly performing older homes. More than $7.8 billion will be spent on home renovation, improvement and repair this year in B.C., about $4.4 billion in Metro Vancouver alone. With that much money at play, it is crucial that homeowners do their homework before they sign a contract with a qualified contractor. And they should definitely avoid the underground economy, where cash deals done under the radar run the risk of exposing homeowners to the aforementioned liability issues and close scrutiny from municipal bylaw officials and provincial safety authorities. Although admission to the seminar and exhibit area is free, pre-registration is required. Register online at www.gvhba.org or call 778-565-4288. There was a full house at last year's fall seminar, so register early to guarantee a seat. Public transit is nearby and there is ample on-site parking. Please consider contributing a nonperishable food item or two for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society. These days, more folks - including seniors and single moms - rely heavily on food banks.
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