There is a common mistake that you may be making when it comes to who you hire to complete your home repairs. And the blunder could be costing you valuable time and money, as well as putting your safety in jeopardy.
The big mistake: You’re only thinking about the look of the completed project and not hiring the company and contractor who are experienced enough to do it right.
There is a huge misconception, says Stan Grabowski, the manager of the New Jersey-based Small Home Repairs LLC, that all home repair projects are created equally. However, after 29 years in the business, Grabowski says without hesitation that a large amount of behind the scenes work is not always obvious to the homeowner. Even though the homeowner may be unaware of all the extra work, it doesn’t negate its importance.
Consumers view the repair business simply as a nontechnical industry, he explains, and they view construction work as just installing building materials. But, it involves much more than that as not just any company that advertises it does repairs can do the work correctly.
All too often the focus is just on the finished product, Grabowski says. Having a great-looking staircase that has intricate details engraved on the banister is great. However, if the steps have been poorly constructed and the banister is loose, then that defeats the purpose of the stairs since they’re unsafe.
Even if you are looking for a company who can complete a small-scale project that might not necessarily call for a permit, having a trusted and experienced contractor not only makes for a better job overall, but also adds to the safety aspects of your home.
The experience factor: Unbeknown to most homeowners, Grabowski explains, the Uniform Construction Code in New Jersey clearly states that all work done by a professional has to be performed in a workmanlike manner. What this means, he says, is that shoddy workmanship is unacceptable. If your state won’t allow it, than neither should you.
A seasoned contractor brings attention to details, he says, and makes certain that there is functionality to a project and that it’s not all about cosmetics. A true professional also strives to stay in line with code compliances and really cares about the quality of work he produces — not just about how much money he will make or how fast the job can be done.
The bottom line is that when the workmanship is sloppy and inferior to that of a professional’s work, it will no doubt affect and hamper the value of the finished project. Any professional contractor or real estate agent, he says, would certainly agree.
