How to hire a contractor -- any reccommendations??

meganbw · March 2007

Hello,

We're moving to Clinton Hill in a few months and the apartment we bought needs a gut renovation on the bathroom, a whole lot of work on the kitchen and a couple of other things (enlarging a closet, etc.).

I'm having a hard time getting contractors that friends have recommended to call me back and am trying to cast the net a bit wider. We really liked the first person we met with and he comes very highly recommended but the labor costs would mean we couldn't touch the kitchen. I think our initial budget was a little low, but we still want to go with a lisenced/insured person so we may also just have to revise upwards a bit...

If anyone could send me a PM with references, that would be great.

Anyone else's tips on how to go through this process are also much appreciated!

Thanks.

lostingreenwoodhts · March 2007

Check out brownstoner.com reno boards and reno blogs. Lots of help there.

I can recommend Vigilante Plumbing and a few indie guys for carpentry and electric. Good and priced well. PM me if you like...We did a gut reno on our frame house, but the GC walked off the job...stay away from Grand Renovation! :evil:

My recommendation would be to GC the job yourself, do as much as you can (or are willing to) yourself (depending on your skills) and job out the rest. I will NEVER hire a GC again. We ended up finishing the house ourselves with a small crew of jobbers we found.

I'm sure lots of others will chime in!

j.b. · March 2007

Somewhat related, but there are going-out-of-business signs at the hardware store on Fulton St and Greene Ave. Sad to see the loss of neighborhood hardware stores. THe closest good one is on Flatbush, no?

lostingreenwoodhts · March 2007

7 Corners hardware? NO!!!!

We used to shop there all the time back when I lived in the 'hood.

Always a bit pricey, but nice folks.

Any word on what happened?

How to hire a contractor -- any reccommendations??

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