How To Find A Kelowna Renovation Contractor

 

 Finding Your Own Contracting Super Hero.

The spring is about to begin here in the beautiful Okanagan Valley and as we all awaken from our winter hibernation thoughts turn to the home renovation project. Maybe it was a resolution or a long term plan, in any case where do you start?

The first thing to establish is a budget. The second is who is going to run this project. Both of these important facets of your project go hand-in-hand.

Who is a good candidate for the owner/contractor job?

If you decide to go it alone and be your own contractor, you must establish your own budget. Let’s talk about this step first.

 

Ask yourselves, these questions:

Am I available during the day when all the work takes place?

Am I highly organized and have good people skills?
How much do I know about home renovations? (Watching renovation shows on TV does not count!)
Am I a good negotiator?
Can I run a project?
How much time do I have to devote to this endeavour?
Can I get the same pricing as a builder?
Can I find good trades people?
Do I know how to recognize a good trades person, or supplier?  

Now let’s discuss hiring a contractor.

If you hire the right contractor ?

David Federici at work supervising a Large project

Here is what you should expect to get. All the above items are no longer your problem. You now have an expert to do all of these tasks for you! What a relief. Sounds a little too easy doesn't it? If that's how you feel, you're right, it’s not quite that simple. How do you find this superhero of construction? I'm going to describe the right contractor to you, to help you identify the ideal candidate.

 

The qualified contractor will have

 A business licence

 A proven track record with references (that are not family relations)

 WCB coverage.

 A Tax number.

 Pictures of completed work

 A trade certification

 An Homeowners Protection Office certification

 Will have been in business for at least three years in the Okanagan
 A suppliers and trades-person team that they work with regularly.

 He should be in the Infotel Yellow pages directory. If the contactor has been a around a while, he will be listed.

 

To find your contractor I would used your computer and search for Kelowna home renovation contactors.

The contractor should have a website. You can do some research now anonymously and will be able to weed out bad eggs quickly. Look for the 2-5-10 year warranty being offered, testimonials and who the actual builder is. Nothing is worse that a fancy website that does not tell you anything about the person running the show.

Here is something I feel I should mention.

The Better Business Bureau directory does not have the expertise to evaluate the skill level or qualifications of a contractor. Truth is most new companies can start a business and join the BBB. The BBB is a good idea but the problem is primarily this: Most people will never call them and complain about a business; therefore you get a false sense of security.

 What you want to see is that the contractor is a licensed builder in the province of British Columbia and can offer the Home Owners Protection Warranty.

A well crafted job is a beauty to behold

 

These contactors are your "A" list builders. They have taken the time to prove experience, financial viability, stability, and that they have a clean record as far as any claims ever made against them of company's they’ve managed. Your project may not require the home warranty if it is a small renovation, however your builder is fully qualified and chances are they will stand behind their work to protect their reputation. A licensed builder will also be able to obtain better pricing on materials than a homeowner and have a team of qualified trades and suppliers to help you produce a fine quality project. So your costs may not be that much more than if you do the job yourselves.

 I hope this article will help consumers make the right choice when picking a contractor. My company, Greenwave Construction, has as its’ core value the protection of the consumer.

We feel we owe our clients a duty of care and attention if we are selected as their contractor. Greenwave is a solid licensed builder and we support all legislation that helps protect consumers from substandard workmanship or business practises. I hope you find this information helpful.

Good luck with your project!

David Federici

Owner, Greenwave Construction

250-575-2690

www.greenwaveconstruction.ca

 

It all started with the Big Bang

 A Big Bang and crash was what David Andersen heard while watching TV. David feared his wife had fallen down the stairs as he rushed to investigate and found thankfully there was no injury to life or limb. The damage was to David’s 103 year old home. A portion of the original ceiling located above the stairs had collapsed and fallen.

 This prompted a call to Greenwave Construction. Greenwave was a member of David’s Okanagan Business Referral group. Greenwave had a reputation for using their extensive experience in renovating historical homes. The owner of Greenwave, David Federici, was thrilled to get the call because Mr. Andersen’s home is not just any home. It is a piece of Kelowna history.

 The home was formally known as “The Cedars” and had served as a bed and breakfast for a while, as well as serving briefly as a maternity ward for the Kelowna General Hospital whilst the hospital underwent renovations.

The home was built for a piano salesman in 1905 and originally had no electricity or central heating. While in use by the hospital the heating was installed. The antique radiators still function as efficiently and perfectly as the day they were installed.

 It was the first residential lot subdivided off of Abbott Street and was in existence before the city of Kelowna was incorporated.

It is not a run down old building; it is an absolutely beautiful residence.

  Kelowna home and commercial renovations is what Greenwave Construction specializes in. The owner of Greenwave, David Federici, was over directly to undertake a thorough inspection and make recommendations to remedy the damage. The challenge was to replace the deteriorated ceiling while at the same time preserving the wallpaper on the walls that met the ceiling. Originally it was thought that a crown molding would be required to cover this old-to-new connection, however as the job completed, it became obvious that David had called the right Kelowna home renovation company. The connection was seamless and the work was completed in a few days. Greenwave made sure to take down the scaffolding as well as vacuum at the end of work everyday while the job was underway. Mr. Andersen was so thrilled with the performance that he enquired about a hardwood install on the stairs of their home as well as into the kitchen and dining room. Within a few days selections were made and the flooring was underway.

 The work and attention David and his staff displayed prompted the owner to continue the work until the entire main living area of the home was clad in classic birch planked hardwood. Great care was taken to level the floors in the vintage home and deal with surprises in an efficient, fair way to allow the project to continue uninterrupted to its successful conclusion.

 Renovation of Kelowna heritage homes requires supervision by master craftsmen and precision high quality work to help preserve the value and integrity of these local treasures. Greenwave Construction should be every owner’s number one choice. With over 30 years of experience in residential construction and a Red Seal in carpentry, David Federici’s passion for renovating Kelowna homes is second to none.

Give David a call; you will be glad you did.

Greenwave Assembly Episode 1.mpg