Without careful planning, constant scrutiny and communication, dreams of a lifestyle-improving home renovation can easily become a nightmare of mounting costs and dissatisfaction, said Peter Simpson, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Home Builders' Association (GVHBA).

"Homeowners occasionally contact us to express their frustration with home renovation projects that turned sour. They should have called before they started their projects because GVHBA offers a wealth of well-researched information designed to de-mystify the renovation process," he said.

To help homeowners make informed decisions, the GVHBA Renovation Council – in partnership with BC Hydro, Canada Mortgage & Housing Corp. and Terasen Gas – is presenting its spring home renovation seminar on Tuesday, May 31 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Willingdon Church, 4812 Willingdon Ave., Burnaby. More than 275 homeowners attended GVHBA’s fall seminar.

Seminar presenters will guide homeowners through the various stages of the renovation process, including design and planning, legal and contracts, selecting a renovator, municipal permits, and living through a renovation. Presenters include award-winning renovators, a construction lawyer and senior municipal building official. Attendees are encouraged to arrive at 6 p.m. to view the renovation displays, pick up printed material and discuss their renovation plans with the experts.

Simpson said more than $5 billion will be spent on home renovation and improvement in B.C. this year – 65% of those dollars in the Lower Mainland alone – so it is crucial that homeowners do their homework before they sign a contract with a qualified renovation contractor.

"Homeowners can get themselves into a lot of trouble with liability issues and the taxman if they deal in the cash-only underground economy, rather than hiring a professional renovator," he said.