Present Perfect Repairs and Renovations

I sometimes offer discounts when customers combine several small projects, and for customers who are willing to initiate the project right away. For small, simple jobs, I prefer to work for an hourly rate; For larger, more complex jobs, I prefer to agree to a set price for the entire job. For most jobs, I prefer to supply the parts and materials, so I can guarantee quality and guarantee everything is compatible with how your house is constructed. There's usually fewer headaches that way, but I am open to customers that supply parts and materials.

I tend to ask a lot of questions at first to get a sense of what you are looking for and whether I can deliver it. I typically ask for photos measurements as well. For most jobs, I will need to do an on-site inspection before I can provide a detailed estimate, though sometimes, for smaller, simpler jobs I can give a decent estimate based on your photos and measurements. I am a natural teacher, so I like to explain the repair/renovation process, as well as how the home is constructed, so that you can learn a bit more about the place you call home.

Most contractors can get the job done, but I focus on quality work and communication. I also hold BA and MA degree in Linguistics, two teaching certificates, and during fall, spring, and Winter, I work as a teacher. Linguists are trained to analyze the hidden structure that holds the words in our sentences together, but I also love to analyze the concealed structure holding your house together. I speak English as a native language and Spanish as a second language.

I have been building things since I was a little child playing with Legos! I also live about a block from a specialty lumberyard, and I've learned a half of what I know about woodworking simply by picking the brains of the lumberyard staff.

I prefer to work with residential customers who value quality work. I love working with customers who are interested in chatting and learning more about how their house is constructed, and I also love working with customers who value sustainability, since my business uses electric vehicles charged by the sun, and because I am always looking for clever ways to re-use and up-cycle used materials.

Fireplace Surround: I started with a basic (though functional) fireplace, and worked with an interior designer to create a design for a new mantle, cupboards, shelves, quartzite hearth, with crown molding atop. We added a custom LED system to the shelves to create a sense of warmth and to illuminate up an otherwise dim room. The fireplace surround was custom built from poplar lumber and birch plywood, including cabinets and shelves, and the paint colors were chosen to match pre-existing artwork. Working with the designer made the project great. Designers can conceptualize a project in a way that builders usually cannot--in terms of not just functionality for different sorts of humans, but also aesthetic elements like symmetry, balance, and focal points, and color theory. Additionally, I always love working with tongue-in-groove oak hardwood flooring, and I recommend this flooring system if you are thinking of laminate or luxury vinyl tiles. Yes, hardwood oak not the cheapest option. But compared to other flooring systems, it is incredibly beautiful, durable, and easy to repair. Whenever I work with hardwood flooring, I am humbled to think that it will probably outlive me!

Get a contract in writing. Ask contractors questions about the issues that matter to you, and get the key details in writing. The contract should be negotiable, so don't feel like you just have to submit to whatever the contractor proposes. Don't automatically pick the cheapest quote. There are many ways that contractors cut corners to deliver a low price. For instance, companies can substitute a cheaper material, such as MDF instead of hardwood for baseboards or cabinet sides, but MDF is easily damaged by water, and it can't easily be repaired like hardwood. Here's a dirty secret of the home-improvement industry: it is filled with companies whose business model focuses on competing on price; they sell inexpensive, low-quality products that might look nice on the day they are installed, but that are designed not to last. If you work with avoid these practices and focus on quality and durability. Unless you have experience with the work that you're looking to hire out, talk to contractors before you go out and buy parts/materials for your project. If you purchase on your own first, you might end up having to lug everything back to the return counter. I've seen it happen too often that customers buy their own parts and materials, but don't realize that they won't work for how their house is constructed or that they will be needlessly difficult for the contractor to work with.

Think carefully about what is most important to you: do you want the job done at a low cost? Do you want the job done with quality? Or do you want the job done quickly? No contractor is going to deliver all three. I prioritize quality. Ask if the contractor is licensed and insured. Insurance is particularly important in case the contractor accidentally causes damages while working on your property. Licensing matters for certain types of projects, such as major plumbing, electrical, roofing, and structural work, where substandard work could cause damages to your property. You should have a sense of what sorts of tradespeople you will need to hire. Think about whether you need a professional designer to make the project look aesthetically pleasing and to maximize the functionality. Many homeowners save money by not hiring a designer, but this often leads to work with subpar aesthetic details and user functionality. Finally, be flexible about your plans and your budget, because good contractors will give you insights about aspects of the project you probably never considered.