Home records, explained › Who helps with a home
Who helps with a home, moment by moment
Buying, selling, renting or keeping a home brings in dozens of trades and services. For each, the records that matter to the work, the licence or public register to check where one exists, and the questions people ask before hiring. Businesses are listed free.
84 kinds of business. Page reviewed 30 Oct 2026.
- Thinking about it
- Getting ready to sell
- Searching and financing
- The offer and its conditions
- Closing and moving
- The first 90 days
- Making it yours
- Adding a unit or renting it out
- Living there
Thinking about it
Before anything is signed: who to talk to first, and what the town's rules are.
- Real estate agents and brokeragesRepresent a buyer or a seller in the trade. Their own guide and listings are on the agents' page.Licence or register to check
- Mortgage brokers and agentsArrange a mortgage with a lender. Their guide and listings are on the lenders' page.Licence or register to check
- Bank and credit union mortgage specialistsA lender's own mortgage staff. Their guide is the lenders' page.
- Senior moves and downsizingPlanning a move to a smaller home or residence, and selling or donating what doesn't come.
Getting ready to sell
Fixing what the records show before the listing, and showing the home at its best.
- Home stagersArrange or rent furniture and decor so the listing photos and showings show the space.
- Real estate photographers and videoPhotos, video, floor plans and drone shots for the listing. Drone work near airports has federal rules of its own.
- Deep cleaning before a listingA top-to-bottom clean before photos, showings or the keys change hands.
- PaintersInterior and exterior painting. A home in a heritage district may need a heritage permit for some exterior changes.
- Handyman servicesSmall repairs and odd jobs. Electrical, gas and plumbing work beyond small fixes belongs to the licensed trades.
- Junk removal and declutteringHauling away what doesn't move with you; the City's own bulky-item and drop-off rules are on its waste pages.
- Pre-listing home inspectorsAn inspection the seller orders before listing, so repairs or disclosures happen on the seller's schedule. Home inspectors aren't licensed in Ontario while the Home Inspection Act, 2017 is not in force.
- Landscaping and curb appealGardens, sod, planting and front-yard work. Any digging needs a locate request first, and the City's tree by-law can cover trees on private land.
- StorageShort or long-term storage while a home is shown or between closings.
- Real estate agents and brokeragesRepresent a buyer or a seller in the trade. Their own guide and listings are on the agents' page.Licence or register to check
- FlooringHardwood, laminate, tile, carpet and refinishing.
- Tree services and arboristsPruning, removal and stump grinding. Many cities need a permit to remove or injure a tree of a certain size, including on private land.
- Interior designersLayouts, finishes and furniture.
- Yard clean-upSpring and fall clean-up, leaves, brush. The City's yard-waste collection days are on its pages.
- Window and gutter cleaningWindows, screens and gutters.
- Professional organizersSorting, packing and setting up a home.
Searching and financing
Finding the home, the money and the people who know the area.
- Real estate agents and brokeragesRepresent a buyer or a seller in the trade. Their own guide and listings are on the agents' page.Licence or register to check
- Mortgage brokers and agentsArrange a mortgage with a lender. Their guide and listings are on the lenders' page.Licence or register to check
- Bank and credit union mortgage specialistsA lender's own mortgage staff. Their guide is the lenders' page.
- Relocation servicesHelp for people moving from another city or country: neighbourhoods, schools, the practical side of arriving.
- Rental finders and scoutsPeople who find rentals for a fee. Whether a unit is a legal second unit, and the city's rental licensing, are on the record.
The offer and its conditions
Often five days: answers on the house, the lot, the money and the title.
- Real estate agents and brokeragesRepresent a buyer or a seller in the trade. Their own guide and listings are on the agents' page.Licence or register to check
- Mortgage brokers and agentsArrange a mortgage with a lender. Their guide and listings are on the lenders' page.Licence or register to check
- Bank and credit union mortgage specialistsA lender's own mortgage staff. Their guide is the lenders' page.
- Home inspectorsInspect the house for a buyer during the conditions. Their guide and listings are on the inspectors' page.
- Wood stove and fireplace (WETT) inspectionsInspection of a wood-burning stove, fireplace insert or chimney.Licence or register to check
- Sewer and drain camera inspectionsA camera down the main drain to the street: roots, breaks, the pipe's material. The City's records show the sewer type on the street.
- Radon testingMeasurement of radon in the home. Health Canada's guideline is 200 Bq/m³ over a long-term test of at least three months.Licence or register to check
- Pest inspectionInspection for termites, rodents, wasps and other pests before closing.Licence or register to check
- Land surveyorsA survey fixes the lot's boundaries; the City's lot map in a report is not a survey.Licence or register to check
- AppraisersValue the home, usually for the lender. Their guide is the appraisers' page.Licence or register to check
- Home insurance brokersArrange the home insurance a lender asks for by closing. Their guide is the insurance page.Licence or register to check
- Well water testingTesting a private well's water for bacteria and other contaminants.
- Septic inspection and pumpingInspection or pumping of a private septic system. Installers of septic systems hold a BCIN qualification.Licence or register to check
- Real estate lawyersClose the purchase or sale: title, funds, the transfer. Their guide is the lawyers' page.Licence or register to check
- Oil tank removalRemoving an old fuel oil tank. Fuel oil work needs a TSSA-registered contractor.Licence or register to check
- Structural engineersBeams, removed walls, foundations, cracks: drawings and letters the building department may ask for.Licence or register to check
Closing and moving
Keys, cover from day one, and getting everything in.
- Deep cleaning before a listingA top-to-bottom clean before photos, showings or the keys change hands.
- Junk removal and declutteringHauling away what doesn't move with you; the City's own bulky-item and drop-off rules are on its waste pages.
- Moving companiesPacking, moving and storage. A truck on the street may need the City's parking or road-occupancy permission.
- StorageShort or long-term storage while a home is shown or between closings.
- Relocation servicesHelp for people moving from another city or country: neighbourhoods, schools, the practical side of arriving.
- Home insurance brokersArrange the home insurance a lender asks for by closing. Their guide is the insurance page.Licence or register to check
- Real estate lawyersClose the purchase or sale: title, funds, the transfer. Their guide is the lawyers' page.Licence or register to check
- LocksmithsRekeying or replacing the locks after closing.
- Move-in and move-out cleaningA clean between the owners: the empty home, appliances, windows.
- Utilities and internetElectricity, gas, water, internet. The record shows who supplies each one on the street.
- Tenant insuranceInsurance for a renter's belongings and liability, through a broker.Licence or register to check
- Security and alarm systemsAlarms, cameras and monitoring.
- Home watch and house sittingChecks on an empty home: heat, water, mail. Many insurers set rules for how often an empty home must be checked.
- Professional organizersSorting, packing and setting up a home.
- Senior moves and downsizingPlanning a move to a smaller home or residence, and selling or donating what doesn't come.
The first 90 days
What the records flagged becomes a to-do list.
- Handyman servicesSmall repairs and odd jobs. Electrical, gas and plumbing work beyond small fixes belongs to the licensed trades.
- Wood stove and fireplace (WETT) inspectionsInspection of a wood-burning stove, fireplace insert or chimney.Licence or register to check
- Sewer and drain camera inspectionsA camera down the main drain to the street: roots, breaks, the pipe's material. The City's records show the sewer type on the street.
- Radon testingMeasurement of radon in the home. Health Canada's guideline is 200 Bq/m³ over a long-term test of at least three months.Licence or register to check
- Well water testingTesting a private well's water for bacteria and other contaminants.
- Septic inspection and pumpingInspection or pumping of a private septic system. Installers of septic systems hold a BCIN qualification.Licence or register to check
- Heating and air conditioningFurnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners, ducts. Gas work needs a TSSA-registered contractor, and a residential air conditioning mechanic is a compulsory trade.Licence or register to check
- Duct cleaningCleaning the heating ducts. It is one of the services that can't be sold at the door unless you invited the business.
- Chimney sweepsCleaning and inspecting a chimney or flue.Licence or register to check
- PlumbersWater and drain lines, fixtures, water heaters. Plumber is a compulsory trade.Licence or register to check
- Backwater valves and sump pumpsA backwater valve stops sewage backing up into a basement. Installing one needs a plumbing permit, and some cities pay part of the cost.Licence or register to check
- Basement waterproofingFoundation repair, drainage and waterproofing. Digging along the foundation needs a locate request first.
- Radon mitigationA system that lowers radon in the home, usually by drawing soil gas out from under the floor.Licence or register to check
- Electricians and electrical contractorsPanels, wiring, outlets, EV chargers. Hired as a Licensed Electrical Contractor, who files the notification with ESA.Licence or register to check
- Water softeners and treatmentSofteners, filters and treatment systems. They can't be sold at the door unless you invited the business.
- Security and alarm systemsAlarms, cameras and monitoring.
- Appliance repair and installationRepair and installation of appliances. Connecting a gas appliance needs a TSSA-registered contractor.Licence or register to check
- Energy advisors (EnerGuide)An EnerGuide home evaluation by a registered energy advisor, often the first step for energy grants.Licence or register to check
- Oil tank removalRemoving an old fuel oil tank. Fuel oil work needs a TSSA-registered contractor.Licence or register to check
- EV charger installationA home charger on its own circuit, installed by a licensed electrical contractor with an ESA notification.Licence or register to check
- Asbestos and mould removalTesting and removal of asbestos-containing materials and mould before or during a renovation; Ontario has rules for how asbestos is handled on construction projects.
- Flood and fire restorationDrying, cleaning and rebuilding after a flood, a fire or a sewer backup, often through an insurance claim.
- Pest controlMice, ants, wasps, bed bugs. Using pesticides indoors as a business needs an exterminator licence.Licence or register to check
Making it yours
The lot's rules before the first drawing, then the work itself.
- PaintersInterior and exterior painting. A home in a heritage district may need a heritage permit for some exterior changes.
- Land surveyorsA survey fixes the lot's boundaries; the City's lot map in a report is not a survey.Licence or register to check
- Heating and air conditioningFurnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners, ducts. Gas work needs a TSSA-registered contractor, and a residential air conditioning mechanic is a compulsory trade.Licence or register to check
- PlumbersWater and drain lines, fixtures, water heaters. Plumber is a compulsory trade.Licence or register to check
- Backwater valves and sump pumpsA backwater valve stops sewage backing up into a basement. Installing one needs a plumbing permit, and some cities pay part of the cost.Licence or register to check
- Basement waterproofingFoundation repair, drainage and waterproofing. Digging along the foundation needs a locate request first.
- Radon mitigationA system that lowers radon in the home, usually by drawing soil gas out from under the floor.Licence or register to check
- Electricians and electrical contractorsPanels, wiring, outlets, EV chargers. Hired as a Licensed Electrical Contractor, who files the notification with ESA.Licence or register to check
- Energy advisors (EnerGuide)An EnerGuide home evaluation by a registered energy advisor, often the first step for energy grants.Licence or register to check
- General contractors and renovatorsRun a renovation from start to finish and hire the trades. Their guide is the contractors' page.
- Kitchen renovationDesign and build of a new kitchen. New wiring goes to a licensed electrical contractor and gas lines to a TSSA-registered one.Licence or register to check
- Bathroom renovationBathrooms and basement washrooms. New plumbing usually needs a plumbing permit.Licence or register to check
- Basement finishingFinishing a basement, or turning it into a second unit with its own fire separation and exits.
- FlooringHardwood, laminate, tile, carpet and refinishing.
- RoofingShingles, flat roofs, flashing and repairs. Some structural roof work needs a building permit.
- Windows and doorsReplacing windows and doors. A new or wider opening, and changes in a heritage district, may need a permit.
- Eavestroughs, siding and soffitsGutters, downspouts, siding and soffits.
- Insulation and air sealingAttic, wall and basement insulation. An EnerGuide evaluation before and after is what many energy grants ask for.Licence or register to check
- Drywall and plasterNew walls, repairs and finishing.
- Carpentry and cabinetryTrim, built-ins, stairs, cabinets.
- Masonry and brick repairBrick, stone, chimneys and repointing. A heritage property may need a heritage permit for exterior work.
- Concrete and foundation repairFoundations, slabs, walkways and underpinning. Structural repairs often need an engineer's drawings and a permit.Licence or register to check
- Decks, fences and shedsDecks, fences, sheds and pergolas. Height, setbacks and the conservation authority's area can all apply; many decks need a permit.
- Pools and hot tubsIn-ground and above-ground pools and hot tubs. Cities have pool-fence by-laws and many need a permit.Licence or register to check
- Tree services and arboristsPruning, removal and stump grinding. Many cities need a permit to remove or injure a tree of a certain size, including on private land.
- Demolition and excavationTaking down a building or part of one, and digging. Demolition needs a permit, and a listed or designated heritage property has extra steps.
- ArchitectsDesign, drawings and the permit application for larger or complex projects.Licence or register to check
- Building designers (BCIN)Permit drawings for houses, additions, decks and second units, within the building sizes their BCIN covers.Licence or register to check
- Structural engineersBeams, removed walls, foundations, cracks: drawings and letters the building department may ask for.Licence or register to check
- Interior designersLayouts, finishes and furniture.
- Permit help and zoning consultantsHelp with permit applications, minor variances and the Committee of Adjustment.Licence or register to check
- Solar panels and batteriesSolar panels, batteries and the connection to the grid. The electrical side is licensed electrical contractor work.Licence or register to check
- EV charger installationA home charger on its own circuit, installed by a licensed electrical contractor with an ESA notification.Licence or register to check
- Garage doorsDoors, openers and repairs.
- Asbestos and mould removalTesting and removal of asbestos-containing materials and mould before or during a renovation; Ontario has rules for how asbestos is handled on construction projects.
Adding a unit or renting it out
Extra-unit rules, rental licensing and the people who build and manage units.
- Rental finders and scoutsPeople who find rentals for a fee. Whether a unit is a legal second unit, and the city's rental licensing, are on the record.
- Tenant insuranceInsurance for a renter's belongings and liability, through a broker.Licence or register to check
- Basement finishingFinishing a basement, or turning it into a second unit with its own fire separation and exits.
- ArchitectsDesign, drawings and the permit application for larger or complex projects.Licence or register to check
- Building designers (BCIN)Permit drawings for houses, additions, decks and second units, within the building sizes their BCIN covers.Licence or register to check
- Permit help and zoning consultantsHelp with permit applications, minor variances and the Committee of Adjustment.Licence or register to check
- Garden suite and laneway house buildersDesign and build of a detached unit in the yard, where the zoning allows one.
- Fire separation and egress windowsThe fire separations, smoke alarms and exit windows a second unit needs under the Building and Fire Codes.
- Property managersFind and screen tenants, collect rent and handle repairs for a landlord.
- Landlord and tenant paralegalsLicensed paralegals may represent landlords or tenants at the Landlord and Tenant Board.Licence or register to check
- Short-term rental co-hosts and cleanersTurnover cleaning and guest handling for a short-term rental, where the city's by-law allows it.
Living there
The regulars: the yard, the roof, the pests, the cleaning.
- Handyman servicesSmall repairs and odd jobs. Electrical, gas and plumbing work beyond small fixes belongs to the licensed trades.
- Landscaping and curb appealGardens, sod, planting and front-yard work. Any digging needs a locate request first, and the City's tree by-law can cover trees on private land.
- Septic inspection and pumpingInspection or pumping of a private septic system. Installers of septic systems hold a BCIN qualification.Licence or register to check
- Heating and air conditioningFurnaces, heat pumps, air conditioners, ducts. Gas work needs a TSSA-registered contractor, and a residential air conditioning mechanic is a compulsory trade.Licence or register to check
- Duct cleaningCleaning the heating ducts. It is one of the services that can't be sold at the door unless you invited the business.
- Chimney sweepsCleaning and inspecting a chimney or flue.Licence or register to check
- PlumbersWater and drain lines, fixtures, water heaters. Plumber is a compulsory trade.Licence or register to check
- Appliance repair and installationRepair and installation of appliances. Connecting a gas appliance needs a TSSA-registered contractor.Licence or register to check
- RoofingShingles, flat roofs, flashing and repairs. Some structural roof work needs a building permit.
- Eavestroughs, siding and soffitsGutters, downspouts, siding and soffits.
- Masonry and brick repairBrick, stone, chimneys and repointing. A heritage property may need a heritage permit for exterior work.
- Decks, fences and shedsDecks, fences, sheds and pergolas. Height, setbacks and the conservation authority's area can all apply; many decks need a permit.
- Tree services and arboristsPruning, removal and stump grinding. Many cities need a permit to remove or injure a tree of a certain size, including on private land.
- Garage doorsDoors, openers and repairs.
- Flood and fire restorationDrying, cleaning and rebuilding after a flood, a fire or a sewer backup, often through an insurance claim.
- Lawn careMowing, aeration, seeding. Ontario restricts cosmetic pesticide use on lawns.Licence or register to check
- Snow removalDriveways, walkways and roofs. The City's plowing and sidewalk clearing are on the record.
- Yard clean-upSpring and fall clean-up, leaves, brush. The City's yard-waste collection days are on its pages.
- House cleaningRegular cleaning, weekly or monthly.
- Pest controlMice, ants, wasps, bed bugs. Using pesticides indoors as a business needs an exterminator licence.Licence or register to check
- Window and gutter cleaningWindows, screens and gutters.
- Home watch and house sittingChecks on an empty home: heat, water, mail. Many insurers set rules for how often an empty home must be checked.
For businesses
Listing on OfferDue is free and in the order businesses were checked, never paid for. Where a licence or register exists we check it before a listing shows. Each kind of business has its own page with a free listing request; the professionals in the offer itself (agents, lawyers, lenders, inspectors, appraisers, insurance brokers, contractors) have their own guides.
Public-record information, not legal, financial, insurance or inspection advice. A listing on OfferDue is not a recommendation; check licences and references yourself.