The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Whitby Free Press, Wodnesday, September 8,1993, Page 21 AHOME DESIGN AND IMPROVEMENT FEATURE Varilety of exhilbitors at mal s home, renovation show Some 30 companies are expec- ted te exhibit at the Whitby Mal Home and Renovation Show Sept. 8 to il. The event 19 being organized by Don Mosier of Sendance International Shows, who says there will be a "good selection» of Durham home improvement and renovation companies on hand. "I think it's a very good cross- selection... a great littie show. Anything that, people want in their bouse 18 ging te be there; nothing's mgsed.» Mosier says he didn't want te Youve docided yeu want a new kitchen and ensuite bathroom. Friends and neighbours who have had simler renevations done Iately suggest a way you can save a few dollars on your renovation. Bewere! The renovation business has a dark sido -- one that ennoys and frustrates everyone -- especially the many professionals in the field, such as those belonging te the Greater Toronto Homo Buildersd Association (GTHJBA) renovation and redevelopment council. Accrding te the winter 1992/93 Pulse Survey conducted by the Canadien Home Builders? Association, builders in Ontario believe that since the introduction of tho GST, the amountT of renovation wiork undertaken on the black market 18 roughly 45 per cent -- nearly half of aIl renovation activity. In 1990, it was believed that 25 per cent of renevation work was performed using cash-type transactions. "Net only s the federal government bsing vast ameunts of both G&sales and income tex revenue to black market activity, "flood people up with, say, five or six vacuum guys» 1ke you'd see at larger home shows. '"(For example) we have three heating people who are local contractors; each one of them selis a différent brand.» Exhibitors will include several kitchen cabinet-makers, home docoraters, cleaning companies and contractors from Whitby and the rest of Durham Region. «It doesn't matter what you want in your home, were going to have it in the Whitby MaIl," concludes Mosier. black market activity aIse presents many problems for homneowers," says Terry Mils, a member for the GTHBA renovation council. "'On the surface, while cash-type transactions might appear te offer big savings te, the homeowner, there is typicaily ne contreet and ne warranty between the customer and the renovator. "This leaves the customer wide open te problenis if the renovater does net perform properly or, werse, takes off with the money," says Mfilîs, a partner in a Toronte-based renovation com- pany. Let's. take an examrple: You've contacted several recommended renovaters te obtain quetes on the job. You've now cerne down te a short list of twe renovaters. Renovater A offers you a savinge of a "few" dollars if yeu pay him in cash. Hell forget the permits, just pay hlm haîf now -- in cash -- and ho will stert temerrow. Renovater B cernes te you with complote references and gives you a written quete and, contract ARLENE FLARO, a design consultant at Canadian salesperson. Flaro is shown Rousseau Herita e House, received an seated at a Hickory Chair dining room award fromteikory Chair Company setting. photo by Mark Reesor, Whltby Free Press recognizing her as the company's top t ion ripoft back wall of the house, thon $10,000 disappears, nover te return te beforet coxuplete the job. You net only GST, tht lose your money, you must now $2,400i begin the process 'of hiring With th( anothor renovater to fix up the tax rever mess. In th Why trust an enormous renovat< investment of your hard-earned beware. dollars to someone who will break importar rules te save a few dollars. their i At face value, the dollar enyone. difference entices a lot of people By be te do semething their botter GTHBA, judgrnent would tel thom te desire tx avoid. Be honest, would you hire renovatc a doctor this way? A lawyer? An sponsore investment counsellor? 0f course The G net. a stand Consumers in the Greater that dis Toronto Area will spend almost permits $4 billion on renovatiens this descripti yoar. Small renovation cempanies obligatio and moonlighting tradesmen and lial comprise the vast majority of the and con underground ectivity. and payi A Clayton Research report, GTI <Tho Effect of the GST on Black live up Market Renevatiens,' concludod adminisi that "the GST makes it For petentially even more profitable renovati te undertalce renovation work on renovatc the black market." GTHBA The report found that for a at (416) black market renovation the introduction of the .0e governxnent would loe. in ý'iceme tex revenue- .0e GST, the government's ?nue loss climbs to $2,820. -ie meentime, hiring a or is a case of buyor .That's why it's se nt that consumers do iomework before hiring ýcoming a member of the ýa renovator has shown a to impreve- his skills as a ýor through GTHIBA- ,d educatien and training. GTHBA has aIse developed lard renovation contract àcloses work te be done, 3te be obtained, a tion Of warranty bns, contractor5 insurance tbility sttement, starting wpletion dates and price ymont terms. [BA members must aise Ste a strict code of ethics stered by their peers. information on home Lions or te obtain a list of tor niembors, cali the t%- housing information line ) 391-HOME. including ail pormits, taxes and payment achedule. Renovater B's prices are a littie higher than renovator M'. But do you want te choose renovater A and find yourself in the following predicament? You hire an unlicensed renovator whe is net a inember of the GTH-BA. You contract hlm te, de an addition on the back of your home. Upon receiving a sizeeble cash deposit from you, the renevator begins te rip eut the Beware of renova