How to Hire a Contractor Without Getting Burned!
You're not an experienced home renovator, a lawyer, or a project manager, but now you have to hire and manage a contractor.
If you're asking yourself, "I have no idea what questions I should even be asking!"...
..."16 Things..." is written for you.
The complete homeowner toolbox for hiring, managing, and paying contractors—so your project doesn't drain your bank account, retirement, or self-respect.
Likely, your bank will REQUIRE you to hire a contractor.
Which means you're on the hook to manage your project ON YOUR OWN.
You may be privately asking these questions...
"I've never read a contractor contract before."
"I don't know what a fair payment schedule looks like."
"I have no idea what questions I should even be asking."
These are real issues. The toolbox addresses every one of them — in plain language, with exact steps, before your first call goes out.
"What if I can't tell the difference between a good contractor and a convincing one?"
"What if I miss something obvious that everyone else would have caught?"
"What if I trust the wrong person because I just don't know enough to know better?"
You don't need to become a construction expert— you need a framework that tells you exactly what to look for — and what a good answer looks like versus a red flag. That's what this toolbox is built around.
"What if I spend $40,000 and end up with nothing to show for it?"
"What if my family pays the price for a decision I got wrong?"
"What if I become the cautionary tale?"
The toolbox doesn't just give you checklists. It gives you the understanding behind the checklists — so you know why each protection matters.
If so, you're not the only one...
When asked which parts of the renovation process could have been improved, homeowners who completed projects in 2025 said:
Good news..."Don't Get Nailed!" addresses all three of these top issues!
I'm an engineer, and the son of a house builder—
...and I STILL Had No Idea How To Manage A Renovation!
These pictures show what I moved my family-of-five into on August 1, 2023. We spent the next year finishing what my contractor left us with. (For the full nightmare, click here.)
MORE TO THE POINT...after the second time I asked my bank for more money to finish and two years waking up terrified at 3:30 am "we are going to be homeless," the thought came to me...
"There's about 10 things that I'd do differently if I had to do it over. I should write a book and save everyone the trouble!"
MOVEIN 8/1/2023. The room my family-of-five lived in for two months until we got the bedrooms ready.
Move-In week of 8/1/2023. Never pay on-demand. Always negotiate payment of a work completion schedule.
Move-In week of 8/1/2023, plumber was paid in full with the promise "He'll come back out and finish when you're moved in." He didn't.
MOVEIN 8/1/2023. The room my family-of-five lived in for two months until we got the bedrooms ready.
Pics of what we moved our family-of-five into on August 1, 2024, after I wrote the last check to my contractor, who explained, "Oh no, we're done. You have no more money."
So I put together the
"Don't Get Nailed Toolbox!"
Here is the COMPLETE toolbox built so by the last page, you'll know exactly what to do and when...
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The most powerful asset every homeowner already holds—and the exact moment they lose it
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One word contractors use instead of a real number—and why agreeing costs you thousands
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How to question and filter out the contractors who cause problems—before they ever quote you
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How to negotiate your contract—including the sneaky terms that quietly undermine the work
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The shortcut your contractor will suggest—and why it could become your costliest mistake
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How to create the simple paper trail that protects you if things ever go sideways
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One role nobody tells you to fill—and what happens to your money if you don't.
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How to handle your own change requests as seriously as the contractor handles theirs
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How to make site visits actually count, instead of just showing up
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What your real options are when things go sideways—and exactly who to call
...And More!
Built for U.S. and Canadian Homeowners
Every chapter in this guide accounts for both markets. Licensing verification guidance covers US state boards and Canadian provincial registries — including the RBQ in Quebec, the Safety Codes Council in Alberta, Consumer Protection BC, and Ontario's consumer protection statutes. Small claims court guidance addresses US state limits and procedures alongside Canadian provincial equivalents. Rules that differ between jurisdictions are highlighted.
Small Claims Court:
If The Project Goes Sideways—You'll Be Ready for That Too
Most homeowners who end up in a dispute didn't lose because they had a weak case. They lost because they didn't document, didn't escalate in the right order, and didn't know what the next step was. This toolbox addresses all three — before you ever need to use it.
$22 Book for a $40,000 renovation!
Less than one-tenth of one percent of your renovation budget to help you avoid...
✓ Contractor disputes going sideways
✓ Thousands more in legal fees
✓ Overages
✓ Unfinished or shoddy work
✓ Delays and walk-offs
✓ Months of frustration and stress
✓ The 3:30 am "Second-Guessing Panic"
For LESS than your contractor charges for an hour,
you will get more peace-of-mind than your contract gives you.
Three Ways to Protect Your Project. Choose the Version That That Fits Where You Are.
From the book alone to the full day-by-day system — same protection, different amount of help.
Don't Get Nailed! — The Complete Contractor and Project Guide
$22
Print Book
($10 Digital PDF)
Best for: Ideal for homeowners in the planning stage who want the complete picture before speaking with contractors
The full before-during-after framework in 12 chapters.
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Sixteen Things I Would Do Differently
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Know Your Leverage
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Find Your Contractor the Right Way
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Negotiate Six Things Before You Sign Anything
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The Permit Is Not the Paperwork
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Start Your Journal Before Anyone Shows Up
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Your Budget Is Your Job
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Take Change Orders Seriously
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Visit Your Site Regularly
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Fix It Now
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Stand Your Ground
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What to Do When Things Go Sideways
Everything you need to walk in informed.
Don't Get Nailed! + 6 Protective Documents
$49
Print Book + Toolbox
(Toolbox standalone: $47)
Best for: For homeowners who want both the guide and the tools before meeting contractors. Turn knowledge into leverage with ready-to-use documents. Start here if your project is approaching.
The book, plus the five documents that put it into practice:
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Bid Request Template
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Contractor Interview How-To Guide
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Contract Clause Checklist
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Payment Schedule Calculator
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Contractor Dispute Letter
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Small Claims Court Prep Guide
Download the Vault. You'll have done more to protect your project than nine out of ten homeowners who spend ten times as much on the same work.
