| Author |
Message |
    
mallory
Citizen
Username: Mallory
Post Number: 12
Registered: 6-2002
| | Posted on Sunday, December 7, 2003 - 12:33 pm: |     |
Hi all - can anyone recommend contractors/architect-designers etc. - we want to finish our attic, including dormers, 2 bedrooms and a bathroom. we want to get a few estimates from contractors that people were happy with. also - if there are any contractors that were terrible, we would like to hear about them too - so we avoid using them.
thanks |
millie amoresano
Citizen
Username: Millieamoresano
Post Number: 3
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, December 7, 2003 - 8:29 pm: | |
Hi my husband has done alot of work in the Maplewood,Millbrn,Short Hills area.He has worked with local architects in M}aplewood. He does make make his own drawings also which saves his customers thousands of dollars in architect fees. If you are interested please call him at 973-599-0381.Or via email at millieamore@aol.com |
Richard O'Connor
Citizen
Username: Roconn
Post Number: 25
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Monday, December 8, 2003 - 7:43 am: | |
I used John Cimino/CMC Construction/All Pro Construction. The job was an insurance thing when a tree fell on my house (pictures of the process at:
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/roconn/withtree/index.htm
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/roconn/posttree/index.html
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/roconn/construction/construction_log.htm
His number is 973-957-4898.
Tell him I sent you.
He gave me a good estimate. He was willing to adjust scope and work when inspections changed how things "HAD" to be done, and he managed to run over by only a week on the time-frame, and when you consider that I moved back in exactly when I said I was going to i've always considered that 'on time' completion.
Richard O'Connor |
mtierney
Citizen
Username: Mtierney
Post Number: 451
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 - 1:32 pm: | |
A word of caution: If a contractor draws up plans for you, the town/village requires the homeowner signs any such documents.
As far as wasting "thousands" on an architect, if you have any aesthetic concerns about how your house will look afterward it might be money well spent and perhaps not nearly as expensive as you would think.
Also architects will take into consideration all the multiple building ordinance requirements upfront.
An analogy: A doctor diagnoses; a druggist fills out the prescription.
Take it from the voice of experience!
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millie amoresano
Citizen
Username: Millieamoresano
Post Number: 5
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 4:47 pm: | |
FYI mtierny my husband tells his customers that they need to sign the plans as if they drew themselves before he meets with them.My husband has been in this business for 25 years with out advertising (all his work is by referals) so he must be doing something right.He has done many additions in Maplewood and Short Hills both with plans he drew himself and also by architect plans.Alot of times its a money descion with people who want the large house but cant see spending 8,000 and upwards for a set of plans plus sometimes a percentage of the total contractor cost.So basically it is really a personal descion of how much people want to spend. |
millie amoresano
Citizen
Username: Millieamoresano
Post Number: 6
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, December 11, 2003 - 4:59 pm: | |
Also no buiding inspector will approve the plans if they are not to code or structually unsafe. |
JGTierney
Citizen
Username: Jtg7448
Post Number: 105
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, December 12, 2003 - 2:00 pm: | |
Ahh.....
But architects do SO MUCH more than determine if something is to simply to code or safe.
Whatever type of person does your residential work, please just make sure they are at the top of their game.
You deserve quality - and that does not have to be proportional to cost.
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greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 1879
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 10:26 am: | |
If you want a good opinion of whether to hire an architect, call Bob Mittermeir & tell him what you are thinking of doing. He was very upfront with us about what kind of plans would be required & who could do them.
Also, a good contractor will tell you, after discussing the scope of your project, whether they can do the plans or you should get an architect. Ours did.
BTW- IMHO, Dormers = architect. No question!
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mtierney
Citizen
Username: Mtierney
Post Number: 453
Registered: 3-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 4:55 pm: | |
If an architect is looking for a percentage of construction costs - beware!
An architect might have a number of contractors who he felt comfortable to recommend to a client to obtain bids. Usually a homeowner has three or four bids come in before accepting a builder. But, it should not be a financial relationship between architect and builder.
The architect represents the interests of the homeowner first and foremost.
There are instances in large development projects where an architect is onstaff . His fee in these cases may be a percentage. |
Me again
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 730
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, December 14, 2003 - 5:19 pm: | |
Richard O'Con, I am *howling* at the photos/captions on your Web site. You must be a hell of a guy--anyone who can keep his sense of humor when a tree that big falls on his house is an unusual human being. [And folks, don't miss the shot of the branch coming through his closet. OMG!  ] |
Richard O'Connor
Citizen
Username: Roconn
Post Number: 36
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 9:14 am: | |
Hey all,
I'M REALLY SORRY ... The number I posted above for John (Cimino) was wrong ... the correct number is 973-953-4898 and he actually returns all calls.
Don't forget to tell him I sent you.
Richard (ROC)
--Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.--
--AIM: ROConn |
Richard O'Connor
Citizen
Username: Roconn
Post Number: 37
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, December 16, 2003 - 9:17 am: | |
Keeping my humor when there was a 300 year old tree on my house was not easy ....
And for the record ... the humor came later when I found the contractor....
the day the tree fell I was pretty much a blubbering mess ... which lasted a couple of days--and then ocasionally surfaced at bad moments ... just ask MacMan ... he gave me a place to live till all was fixed
Richard (ROC)
--Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark; professionals built the Titanic.--
--AIM: ROConn |
flugermongers
Citizen
Username: Flugermongers
Post Number: 120
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Monday, January 12, 2004 - 3:04 am: | |
John James Architect}
11 Inwood Pl, Maplewood (right in the village)
973.378.3118
I know the names of many individual architects, depending on what you want done. Private line me, if you need great}}, reliable, recommendations! |
virgilian
Citizen
Username: Virgilian
Post Number: 231
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 11:21 pm: | |
Millie,
I'm sure your husband is a talented designer, but many contractors are not. Architects usually earn their money. |
Deb G
Citizen
Username: Deborahg
Post Number: 753
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 8:04 am: | |
Hi, Virgilian...for some reason you privatelined the above message to me. Just wanted to let you know, as I am not Millie!
Deborah |
millie amoresano
Citizen
Username: Millieamoresano
Post Number: 23
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 9:15 am: | |
Virgilian I NEVER said my husband was an architect if you read the post correctly i said that he can do the drawings,he has several architects that he deals with on a regular basis, his customers always have the choice to choose their own architect if they wish.Afterall they are paying for the work to be done. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 291
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 9:31 am: | |
Another vote for John James - I've seen some of his work around town. The guy is VERY talented! |
grw
Citizen
Username: Grw
Post Number: 236
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 9:47 am: | |
Check out simplyhomeworks.com |
millie amoresano
Citizen
Username: Millieamoresano
Post Number: 24
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 10:36 am: | |
GRW My husband has done work for John James and i agree with you.They are very professional and work together with both the builder and the customer. |
grw
Citizen
Username: Grw
Post Number: 237
Registered: 12-2002
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 1:09 pm: | |
millie
you need to sit back and take a deep breath, I don't know what you are agreeing with me on. I don't know John James, I didn't recommend him, all I did was say check out "simplyhomeworks.com" |
millie amoresano
Citizen
Username: Millieamoresano
Post Number: 25
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 1:16 pm: | |
GRW Relax I made a mistake my post was meant for SoORlady.No need to take a deep breath. |
virgilian
Citizen
Username: Virgilian
Post Number: 234
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 7:37 pm: | |
How can your husband just "do the drawings" of an architect without being an architect? Don't architects do the drawings of an architect? It would seem that "just the drawings" are a minor part of the architect's work in your opinion. What unnecessary architectural services are by-passed by your husband for client savings? |
virgilian
Citizen
Username: Virgilian
Post Number: 236
Registered: 7-2001
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 8:07 pm: | |
Richard,
your house got SMASHED. Unbelievable.
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Michael K. Mc Kell
Citizen
Username: Greenerose
Post Number: 185
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, January 16, 2004 - 9:13 pm: | |
John James does some fine work.
Been around a while.
Michael K. Mc Kell
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