In the past 3 weeks, I’ve heard from six different remodelers who are very concerned because clients are accepting proposals that are priced significantly lower than their own. It can be devastating to one’s morale to have worked for weeks on a detailed remodeling project proposal only to be told that they’re giving the project […]
Read MoreContrary to popular belief, all Contractors are not all created equal. As a matter of fact, you would be hard pressed to find two Contractors in this entire valley who operate their businesses the same way. They are as different as the owners’ personalities. Having said that, I believe that most of us realize that […]
Read MoreQuestion: When hiring a remodeling contractor, is it a good idea for an owner to request to do some of the work? Answer: Although many homeowners are quite capable of doing some of the labor such as demolition, painting/staining, or even some of the more major components of the job themselves, their contractor should advise […]
Read MoreQuestion: Please explain what a contractor’s “Lien rights” are, and what are “Lien Waivers”? Answer: Put simply, a lien is a claim of partial ownership of your home. In Arizona , any contractor or material supplier that provides labor or materials on your home THAT HAVE A WRITTEN AGREEMENT WITH YOU have the right to […]
Read MoreQuestion: What is the difference between a Design / Build Remodeler and other Remodelers? Answer: Design / Build is pretty much just what the name states; one Company designs and builds the project. Many design / build Remodelers have designers on staff, but in-house design is not necessarily a requirement to be considered design / […]
Read MoreQuestion: Why do Contractors ask what my budget is on a remodeling project? Is this any of their business? Answer: In my opinion, it is an important question to ask. Contractors go on a lot of sales appointments, many of which are dead ends. To try to cut down on wasted time, many Contractors attempt […]
Read MoreQuestion: Is it better for a Contractor to have their own employees performing the work, or are sub-contractors OK? Answer: That depends on who their sub-contractors (subs) are, and how many they use on your job. If your prime contractor has a good relationship with a few reputable subs, they may be able to perform […]
Read MoreQuestion: I have heard that the State of Arizona has strict guidelines for Contractor licensing. Can you explain some of the qualifications required? Answer: The State of Arizona has the toughest guidelines for Contractor licensing that I have seen in my 30 years in this business, but that is good for you, the Arizona Consumer. […]
Read MoreQuestion: My husband is pretty handy around the house and he thinks he can remodel our master bathroom himself. Is that a job we should be attempting ourselves? Answer: For the do-it-yourselfer, unless it’s a simple fixture replacement leaving most of the existing features of the bathroom in place, I would not recommend taking on […]
Read MoreA couple things I’ve learned about remodeling here in the East Valley is that in the summer you start early, and un-licensed contractors are as thick as thieves around here. Jumping through all the flaming hoops and forking out all the cash to become legit is no picnic, and I now realize why many contractors […]
Read MoreQuestion: How do I Compare Remodeling Contractors? What should I look for to help me decide? Answer: Here is a checklist of action items to use when comparing Contractors: Check the license status and complaint record of all contractors on the Arizona Registrar of Contractors website. A link is listed below. Roadrunner’s license is always […]
Read MoreQuestion: We are in the process of reviewing a contract for a remodeling project. Attached to the contract is 3 pages of “terms and conditions” that contain a lot of legal jargon. Is all that really necessary? Answer: Yes, Terms and conditions are a very necessary part of any remodeling contract. What most people don’t […]
Read MoreQuestion: I’ve just gotten three estimates on a rather large remodeling project. Two of the estimates are higher, and one is quite a bit lower. The low guy seems honest and sincere, but should I be wary of a price that seems too good to be true? Answer: Your instincts are correct, in today’s world […]
Read MoreQuestion: We are in the planning phase for a kitchen addition to our home, and we have noticed that most design / build Remodeling Contractors vary a great deal in how they charge for design or up front costs. Is there a common method, or a right or wrong way to go about it? Answer: […]
Read MoreQuestion: We recently remodeled our kitchen, and the stress was almost unbearable. We want to continue upgrading our home, but are putting it off because of the fear of another unpleasant experience. What can we do to decrease the stress level when we remodel again? Answer: Kitchen remodeling happens to be the most stressful remodeling […]
Read MoreQuestion: We are in the process of researching a remodeling project and are concerned about how long it will take. We have heard horror stories of projects taking a year or longer to complete! Can anyone tell us how long different types of remodeling projects should take? Answer: Excellent question, but difficult to give a […]
Read MoreQuestion: When we had an addition added to our home recently, we were charged extra for what the contractor called “unforeseen existing conditions”. Is it standard practice for the contractor to not investigate thoroughly and then charge extra for conditions they say they didn’t know about? Answer: From the tone of your question I would […]
Read MoreQuestion: I have noticed that when new home construction slows down, many builders take on remodeling jobs to fill in. Is there any difference between the two that I should be concerned about if considering both a builder and a remodeler for my remodeling project? Answer: First of all I want to be careful not […]
Read MoreQuestion: We are currently involved in a dispute with a remodeling Contractor over the quality of his finish work. He keeps mentioning that his work is within industry standards. What are the industry standards, who wrote them, and how can I find out what they are? Answer: The “Workmanship Standards for Licensed Contractors??? document is […]
Read MoreQuestion: As homeowners we are always advised to check a contractors insurance. How do we know what to check? What kind of insurance should they have anyway? Answer: I am so glad you asked that question. Uninsured Contractors cost homeowners a great deal of money every year, and the sad part is that the homeowner […]
Read MoreFountain Hills, AZ
Phone: (480) 816-0788
Scottsdale, AZ
Phone: (480) 816-0150
Mon-Fri: 8 AM – 5 PM
Sat: 8 AM – 12 PM
Sunday: Closed
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AZ ROC Commercial License #178567
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