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The Brampton Guardian
Homeowners now have a contractor database
The Brampton Guardian
Sunday July 6 2008
By Lance Alexander, Special to the Guardian
 
BRAMPTON - How many times have you heard the same old story?
A homeowner claiming that she/he was ripped off by a private contractor, or a contractor complaining that he was cheated out of payment by a home owner?
We are all too familiar with this scenario, so out of necessity the Registry of Professional Contractors of Ontario (RPCO) was born three years ago.  
It all began when real estate office employee Margaret Mackay was searching for a private, reputable contractor to renovate the bathroom in her Aurora home.
She checked with friends but no one was able to recommend a contractor.  Mackay was approached by several female friends who were also searching for private contractors for various projects in and around their homes.  Then the idea hit home.
Why not establish a national registry of contractors for the benefit of homeowners and those in the business of providing these services?
Since then, Mackay’s brainchild was developed and the RPCO was launched and registered.
Today, with more than 80 registered companies in the RPCO boasting some 250-plus employees, the organization is beneficial for clients and contractors alike.
“Let’s face it,” said Mackay, “There are bad contractors and there are bad clients, but if both parties are reasonable, you can usually cope to the satisfaction of all concerned.”
She added that RPCO is not an ad agency but “an association listing some of the top contractors in Toronto, and the fact that they’re screened, means we are different from everyone else.”
RPCO consists of contractors covering all trades, manufacturers and suppliers who pay an annual membership fee and are listed on the organization’s Web site—  www.renocontractors.com. They are trained, certified, responsible and reputable.  RPCO and its executive board do not get any commission from jobs contracted by members but make life easy for anyone requiring the services of a creditable contractor.  
Other benefits for companies to register with the RPCO include health and dental coverage for contractors and their employees; liability, disability and long-term critical care insurance; financing arrangements for contractors and/or their clients; a gas discount card and up to 20 per cent discount on vehicle lease rates.
Members include carpenters, plumbers, electricians, landscapers, general renovators, and companies involved in building fences, etc.
Clients can have peace of mind, knowing that their contractors were vetted by RPCO, “a fantastic source to find good contractors working and/or living in your specific area,” said Mackay.  
These details can be accessed from the organization’s Web site which is aimed primarily at women who usually want renovations and upgrades to their homes and yards.  
Mackay also noted that since RPCO was inaugurated, never once did she have to serve as a mediator between a listed contractor and a client.  That’s good news.  It says a lot about the integrity of those RPCO contractors.
Mackay can be reached by phone at 416-938-9587, fax at 905-726-2420 or Margaret@renocontractors.com.