Small Jobs, Big Talent

Not so long ago, when the Florida real estate market was booming, someone looking to get their drywall repaired wouldn’t have had much luck calling Whyrick Builders.

With lots of homeowners hungry for whole-house makeovers, major kitchen renovations or luxurious additions, a well-regarded remodeling company like Whyrick might’ve been too busy to handle a minor fix-up project.

“We were so involved in the bigger projects we didn’t have time for repair work,” says Carol Whyrick, co-owner. “But when business slowed, we created a flyer and sent it past clients asking if there were any little things that needed to be done around the house. That in itself generated quite a bit of business. The repairs have been good for us.”

That’s an increasingly common theme for remodelers across Florida these days. And while remodelers may be benefitting from expanding their offerings to encompass smaller jobs, homeowners are the real winners.

Instead of doing it yourself or an relying on itinerate handymen with dubious credentials, homeowners today can hire the region’s most talented and highly trained contractors to tackle projects such as painting, drywall repair, roof patching, cleaning out gutters, power washing or repairing wood rot.

Sure, it’s a bit like having Paula Dean in your kit-chen preparing dinner or Brad Paisley in your living room singing “Happy Birthday” at your surprise party. Overkill, perhaps, but you’ll be sure the job will be done right.

“More remodelers are doing repair work,” says Scott Barnette, president of Barnette Construction and chairman of the Remodelers Council of the Northeast Florida Builders Association. “It’s kept them going during the downturn.”

And they’re proud to have the work. After all, remodelers say, a seemingly minor fix-up job might result in a full-scale renovation project somewhere down the road.

In addition, many remodelers offer a “punch list” service, in which they inspect your home and
create a list of repairs that are needed to prevent deterioration, en-hance safety and preserve your home’s value.

In fact, if you’re selling a home, the fact that you’ve used a qualified professional remodeler for repairs can actually be an important selling point. ?

Larry Murr, owner of Lawrence Murr Remodeling, says he’s always done repair work when clients request it. But now, it’s a substantial portion of the company’s business.

“Florida was hit hard with this building crunch,” says Murr, whose company has won numerous awards for major renovations. “Now there are a lot of builders who are remodeling and remodelers who are doing repairs.”

Of course, it may not make sense to call a remodeler to change out a door knob or patch nail holes. Most of these 30-minute fixes may be best left to a dependable handyman who can charge less for a quick house call, contractors say.

But if you’ve just purchased a bargain fixer-upper or you need a new roof, a chimney repair or extra insulation in your attic, there might never be a better time to get your repairs done by a qualified professional.

“If you want some tiny little thing done, you might talk to a handyman. But if you have 20 little things to be done, you should talk to us,” says Joel Dantzler of The Dantzler Group in Jacksonville" target="_blank">Jacksonville" target="_blank">Jacksonville" target="_blank">Jacksonville.

For remodelers like Dantzler, doing repair work is actually somewhat nostalgic.

“We did repairs when I first went into business,” Dantzler says. “Over the years, we got into upper-end remodeling. So for us, no job is too big or too small.”

The most popular repair projects for local remodelers are up-dating finishes in kitchens and bathrooms.

“We’ve done a record number of bathrooms this year,” Whyrick says. “And everyone is much more budget conscious.”

She says her company has even taken on projects as simple as adjusting doors and weatherproofing doors and windows.

In addition, although remodeling activity has slowed overall, some homeowners are taking advantage of energy-efficiency tax credits by upgrading air conditioning units, insulation and windows and changing out water-hogging kitchen and bath fixtures, experts say.

So, although it can be tempting to hire a handyman who quotes the lowest price, selecting a licensed professional will offer a homeowner extra protection, experts say.

Hiring the proverbial “guy who works out of his truck” puts the homeowner at risk because the work may be poor quality or the worker could sustain an injury and have no insurance.

“We’re in business to stay so we carry the proper insurance, licenses and we have skilled subcontractors we’re confident with,” Murr says. “You’re going to get a better quality of work.”

Dantzler agrees: “Sloppy repair work is going to stand out like a sore thumb,” he says. “Use a professional. We’re licensed and insured and reputable.”

And not necessarily costly. Although a remodeler may charge more than a handyman in some cases, you can be assured of getting value for the money spent.

“Anyone giving you a price quote for half of what it really costs to do the job is not going to do the job right or they won’t do a complete job,” Whyrick adds. “We know what it costs to do the work properly.”

Remodelers are also benefitting from repairs needed on foreclosures and short sales. Although these homes are often in rough shape, they have attracted considerable interest from buyers seeking bargains.

In fact, surveys show that nearly half of existing home sales today are of properties that are considered distressed in some way. And the repairs required are often beyond the scope of handymen and do-it-yourselfers.

Eventually, however, the market will return to something approaching normal. When that happens, most remodelers will resume the magnificent makeovers on which they earned their reputations.

“Things are picking up,” Whyrick says. “Already this year, we’re getting more calls. Banks are finally starting to loosen their belts a little bit and allowing people to do some fixing up.”
For consumers, Whyrick adds, the message is simple: “Now is the time to sign us for a job, because we couldn’t have done it a year ago and probably won’t be able to do it a year from now.”

Cost vs. Value
Each year Remodeling Magazine compiles a Cost vs. Value Report, the industry’s only detailed account of investment returns for remodeling projects. The report establishes cost-to-construct benchmarks for common remodeling projects, then estimates how much of that investment will be recouped at resale in the current market. The following is the breakdown of numbers for the Jacksonville" target="_blank">Jacksonville" target="_blank">Jacksonville" target="_blank">Jacksonville market. ?

MAJOR KITCHEN REMODEL
Average cost: $52,366 ???
Average resale value: $40,037
Expected return: 76.5 percent

MINOR KITCHEN REMODEL
Average cost: $19,981 ?????
Average resale value: $14,323 ?
Expected return: 71.7 percent

FAMILY ROOM ADDITION
Average cost: $71,070 ?????
Average resale value: $52,229 ?
Expected return: 73.5 percent

BATHROOM ADDITION
Average cost: $31,974 ?????
Average resale value: $22,614 ?
Expected return: 70.7 percent

BATHROOM REMODEL
Average cost: $13,577 ?????
Average resale value: $9,554 ?
Expected return: 70.4 percent

MASTER SUITE ADDITION
Average cost: $87,101 ?????
Average resale value: $56,760 ?
Expected return: 65.2 percent

TWO-STORY ADDITION
Average cost: $128,134 ?????
Average resale value: $87,444 ?
Expected return: 68.2 percent

HOME OFFICE REMODEL
Average cost: $26,407 ?????
Average resale value: $15,141 ?
Expected return: 57.3 percent

DECK ADDITION - WOOD
Average cost: $8,952 ?????
Average resale value: $7,070
Expected return: 79 percent

Top Tips for a Successful Remodel
1. Find a communicator. ?Does the contractor listen? Does he or she answer questions clearly and candidly? Can you reach him when you need to? Does he return phone calls promptly? Does he let you know when problems arise and work with you on solving them?
2. Make sure you’re compatible. You’ll spend a lot of time with the contractor, so it’s important to have a good rapport and trust in him. ?
3. Set a schedule. You and the contractor should agree on the schedule up front to avoid conflict and problems later in the project.
4. Request a written proposal. Two people can remember the same conversation differently. Get the proposal in writing.
5. Sweat the small stuff. There are numerous little details that need to be settled before work starts. What times of day will crews be working? How will your property be accessed and protected? How will cleanup be handled?
6. Be flexible. Expect the unexpected and be flexible. Remodeling is intrusive even in the best of circumstances.
7. Discuss change orders. There’s always the chance you’ll want to change materials or other project details as the project progresses. Agree in advance how these changes will be handled and understand that changes could affect the schedule and the budget.
8. Have a detailed contract. The contract should include these elements:
> A timetable for completion of the project.
> A price and payment schedule.
> Detailed specifications for all products and materials.
> Insurance and permit information.
> Procedures for handling change orders.
> Lien releases and provisions for conflict resolution.
> Notice of your rights under the Federal Trade Commission’s Cooling Off Rule.
> Other details, such as cleanup, property access, etc.
9. Ask for a written lien waiver. If the contractor hires subcontractors for portions of the work, it’s his responsibility to make certain they’re compensated. In order to ensure this has been done—and to protect yourself—ask for a written lien waiver when the work is finished.