Planning a home renovation in Canada starts with a written scope, a budget that already includes tax, and a licensed professional for regulated work. On HandNorth you post that scope in Greater Montreal first, compare all-in quotes, and send a booking request. Stripe escrow is on the way. Other Canadian and U.S. cities open when we have a real bench — we will not list a city we cannot staff.
1 Write the job before you hunt for a price
Start by naming why you are renovating: more function, a safer room, or a finish you can live with. A useful post names the room, the work, the access (condo elevator, parking, pets) and the finish you want. Photos of the current space beat adjectives. If you do not know the materials yet, say so — a pro can quote labour now and materials after a site visit, in writing.
Start from Post a project or browse Find a pro. The four public listings today are Montage Express, Maison Solutions, ProFix Services and Atelier du Nord.
2 Permits stay with the city
In Canada, many renovations need a building permit. The rule is municipal, not a HandNorth stamp. Montreal, Laval, Longueuil and other cities each run their own desk. In Quebec, structural, plumbing and electrical work often also needs a licensed contractor (RBQ). Ask the pro whether the job needs a permit and who files it. We will not invent a permit fee or a 2026 “average renovation cost” table — those numbers change by borough and scope.
Useful resources
3 Budget for tax, not a headline number
In Quebec the combined GST + QST on the quote is 14.975%. An all-in HandNorth price is the work plus that tax. There is no commission inside the job — Pros pay a subscription. If a bid arrives “plus tax plus materials later” with no note, it is not an all-in quote. Keep a written contingency for surprises you discover on site — we will not invent a 10–20% rule as if it were our data. See pricing.
4 Licence when the work is regulated
In Quebec, regulated building work needs an RBQ licence. Identity, insurance and CNESST (where it applies) are part of Trust & safety. Ontario notes such as WSIB appear when we open there. U.S. licence names vary by state; we will ask for the one that applies in that city.
5 Plan time and materials in writing
A start window and a duration belong on the quote, not in a chat that disappears. Materials stay out of the all-in number until the quote says they are in. If the scope changes after the visit starts, write the change on the project before anyone spends more.
6 Pay on the platform
Hire from the project and send a booking request. Stripe escrow is on the way — today a person at hello@handnorth.com can hold a deposit by hand. Cash off-platform leaves both sides without a record. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the visit — details on Cancellation.
Questions people ask
- Does HandNorth plan the renovation for me?
- No. You write the scope. Pros quote it. When Stripe escrow is live we will hold the deposit. Today we show licence and insurance where the work needs them.
- Can I use this guide for a U.S. city?
- The planning steps are the same. Booking is not live in the U.S. yet. When a U.S. city opens, we will ask for the licence and insurance that city actually uses.
