Home Remodeling & Repair, Decks, Painting & Custom Cabinetry

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Get references. I can't stress this enough. So many times I have had homeowners tell me they gave another contractor a down payment and he never came back or they had paid him for most of the job and he didn't finish.

References are never a fail safe but calling several past customers, most importantly recent customers will give you some idea of what to expect. Also check with the Better Business Bureau to see if the company has had any complaints.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Change Orders! Remember those two words and always ask a contractor before you hire them how they handle change orders. A change order is a legitimate part of the construction business but too many contractors use them to take advantage of customers. A change order is necessary when a homeowner may add additional services such as during a bath remodel they decide they want to upgrade the tile to a natural stone or add a wall niche. Any additions to a signed contract over and above what was originally quoted become a change order. A CO may also include hidden damage found during the demolition process such as rotted or water damaged wood. These are all legitimate uses of a CO. Where contractors abuse them is by under estimating a job just so they can come in at a lower price than their competition all the while knowing they are going to add additional labor and materials later on in the job, claiming it as hidden or unforeseen damage.

The majority of times I bid a job, I am usually the highest. This is not because my prices are higher, actually in most cases they are lower but I account for everything. I am upfront with the possibilities of any hidden damage and include everything necessary in the completion of the job. It is rare that I ever have a change order and if I do it is a result of the homeowner adding or changing something with the original contract. Too many times I have found something I missed during the original quote and repaired it for free only because I view it as a learning cost on my end.

Remember, the lowest bid isn't always the cheapest. It almost always turns out to be the more expensive of the other quotes in the end either by the price changing as the job goes on or even later down the road when things start coming apart because of an inexperienced crew. If one contractor is substantially lower than other bids it means either two things, one, they are planning on adding change orders as they go or two, they are inexperienced at bidding a job. Often times it is both. Ask about change orders. Put the contractor on the spot and ask for specific details and construction schedules. Ask about the process for handling hidden damage. A legitimate contractor will have no problem discussing these questions with you. I never wait for a customer to ask me these questions. It is always discussed at the contract signing and everyone of my customers are aware that sometimes things can go wrong. I let them know up front what to expect so that there are no surprises.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. We have years of experience in all aspects of home improvement. We offer several home construction and repair services such as kitchen and bath remodeling, custom deck and porch construction, siding installation, roofing, window and door replacement, painting as well as all types of carpentry and repairs services.

Our workers are highly skilled in their areas of expertise. We are not "Handymen". We have employees that specialize in specific areas of home repairs and remodeling. You wouldn't want a painter putting on a new roof or a plumber building your kitchen cabinets would you? We have the right people for the right job to ensure it's done right from the start.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. What we do. We take old places and turn them into new and exciting spaces whether it's an old falling down deck or a bathroom with an outdated design. Les founded IGC in 1997 after making a decision to full fill a long time dream of owning a business that consisted of doing what he loved, woodworking. He had worked for several company's at which he didn't agree with their practices and made a decision that his company would always listen to the customer, provide quality services at reasonable prices and stand behind everything they did. Honesty and Integrity had to be #1. Everyone who works for IGC has a love for the job, pride in what they do and it shows in the final product.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. We have been asked often what IGC stands for. When Les, the owner was trying to come up with a name, he was sitting at his desk and asking himself if he was doing the right thing, quiting a well paying, steady job and putting a lot at risk. He glanced down and there sat a daily devotion book titled "In God's Care". He knew at that moment two things, regardless of the outcome, as long as he kept God #1 in his life, followed his direction and will, he would always be in the care of. The second thing he knew was the name of the company, IGC= "In God's Care". It would serve as a daily reminder who the real "boss" of the business was.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. I guess more than anything, I wish new customers knew me on a personal level. There is nothing that satisfies me more than building a relationship with a customer to the point we can be considered friends. Most of my clients I've had for many years and we have come to know each other very well. I know their children's names, their dogs recognize me on future visits, I even had one homeowners dog that would ride to the supply yard with me in the truck. They feel like they can call me at anytime, day or night for anything. Even if it's something I can't repair, they know that I will point them in the direction of someone honest and trustworthy who can.

In this profession there are too many bad apples in the bunch. Companies who will take advantage of people in bad situations. We all have to pay a price for that. Because of those companies, whenever I meet someone for the first time, they are skeptical and rightly so. I always provide references and information about my company to try and ensure them of my honesty and trustworthiness. My companies success relies on repeat business and referrals so if one customer of mine has a negative experience with me, I consider that a failure. Not only that, I take much pride in my work. It may be the customers home, but it is my work and my signature on it. Any one who sees it from the point of completion to years down the road will be seeing a reflection of me. I want them to see something positive. There are most definitely contractors in the home repair business who are doing bad business. I wish I could put them all out of business but I can't. Just know that there are still honest and legitimate craftsmen out here that care about the profession, take pride in their work, believe in giving an honest days work for an honest days pay and will not be satisfied until the job is done right.