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Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 583
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 5:35 am: | 
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We're moving in about 12 days and I'm a wreck! At the new house, Xcel is still working and will be there for another few weeks. There are many things in the house that Xcel is not responsible for, but that I want done after they leave such as installing new shower bars, towel racks and various items in non-constructed bathrooms and switching over older switches in rooms that were not renovated. Can anyone help? THANKS! |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7759
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 6:48 am: |
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You might just want to bite the bullet and have them do those things while they are there. If you try to get a new person to come out for a day of minor things, you may have to wait & then you will be pulling your hair out.
They'll probably charge you a day rate, which may be a little more, but worth it. Go over all the decorative finishes with them now. It will take 10 minutes to install the towel bars, for example, after the tile guys are done.
Rule of thumb for homeownership: get the contractor to do everything that you can while s/he is in your home. Bird in the hand and all..... |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 584
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 8:56 am: |
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greentree that sounds great and I thought of asking Xcel to do these things, but I really need them to concentrate on all things regarding the renovation at this point and not take the guys away from gettig our main stuff finished. We got held up on products and really thought that by our move date, they'd be 90% finished, but they're not, and it's not their fault. We'll just have to move in as-is until the project is completed. So much more needs to be done that taking them away from what I consider "non-essentials" is just not worth it to me. There's no down time -- everyone's hustling and I like that. That's why I thought someone coming in to do "honey do" stuff on rooms that weren't being worked on was ideal to me. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7760
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 9:29 am: |
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You can call Honey Do. Rich is great, but, frankly, with a minium charge for time, it will cost you more.
We had our contractor do all that stuff. Trust me; they don't stop doing major stuff to install a towel bar. It's part of the finishing work & takes them no time at all.
If you want to go a different route, Rich is good. I can't speak for him or his schedule, but I had him do a bunch of "small things" too. Since it is him and one assistant, he had to come back a few times because he, too, has bigger jobs.
Don't get me wrong; I'm very happy that he squeezed my little things in. But my experience thru major renovations, minor ones and "handyman tasks" is that you wait for people who are willing to do the small stuff. Hence, my suggestion to let Excel do it. You probably won't end up saving any time. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14377
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 9:39 am: |
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I know an adult actor who does odd jobs like that for about $12/hour. He's a really nice guy, too. I know of a couple of teenagers who might be able to do that kind of work, too, and you could probably pay them $10/hour or maybe even less.
Email me at noglider@pobox.com if you are interested.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7762
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:21 am: |
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Ahhhh - teenager & odd job guy, not so much, I'd think. It should be very simple to drill an anchor into tile or even wall board, but you'd be amazed at how many people screw it up.
Years ago, I had an "experienced" handyman blow a 2-inch hole into a wall while hanging a mirror.
When you are doing major renovations, it's silly to cheap out at the end (this I know from experience). If the guys who are there can't do it, I'd definitely get someone like Honeydo. 'Cause if the teenager or moonlighter damage the wall, you'll be trying to get someone to come and fix that.
What Rich did for us was, in effect, "punch list stuff", only two years later. He didn't hang anything on the walls, but he fixed a French door that was not properly hung to begin with. He can be trusted with a drill. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 14382
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:41 am: |
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greenetree, you're responding to me as if you're the one who requested recommendations. I'm confused. And yes, there are risks, but you sound as if you know the guys I'm recommending have reputations for clumsiness. I'm sure you don't know them or their work.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7766
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 10:57 am: |
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Nope. I don't know them or their work (that I know of anyway). I'm giving my opinion about hiring people for odd jobs that can cause damage (anyone, including a pro, can goof). The difference between hiring a pro with insurance and someone else is that getting it fixed is much less of a headache and certainly cheaper.
I admit that I am assuming that Kibbe wants to make sure that everything is perfect with a minimum of headaches in her new construction. Hence, my recommendation to go with a Pro who will be resposible for whatever goes right or wrong. I shouldn't make that assumption. But, having been there/done that, I know that if a teen accidentally damages a wall, they usually don't have the money or connections to get it fixed properly.
And no, I am not saying that the people you are recommending are clumsy or not impeccable at what they do. I am, however, quite gun shy from loads of personal experience. |
Kibbegirl
Citizen
Username: Kibbegirl
Post Number: 585
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:10 pm: |
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The stuff that I need done are not in rooms/areas that are new construction. But they are in areas that I don't want damaged, of course. I'd love for my Xcel crew to be able to do chores outside of the "punch-list" but time-wise, it's just not feasible. I'd love for Mr. Kibbegirl to be able to knock out these things for us, but that's not feasible either. Besides, when all the crew's gone, I'd like a small breather for a week or two, just to get my head straight. A nice, local guy with a good reputation for these types of odd jobs, is really what would please me. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 7768
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:18 pm: |
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It's up to you which way to go, of course. My referral is Rich at Honeydo. I originally thought that you knew about him already until I just re-read your post. Rich's business is actually named Honeydo LLC. He's insured and reliable. He's the one who just did a bunch of similar stuff for me. 973.763.4726 |
exmaplewood
Citizen
Username: Exmaplewood
Post Number: 26
Registered: 7-2005
| | Posted on Monday, May 22, 2006 - 12:37 pm: |
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You should call Milton Campos from MGS Contracting - he has done a couple of thing for us and we highly recommnend. His number is 201-618-1157 |
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