Ask Curbed: Contractor Queries

1.

Sounds like the work required is too minor to be worth most contractors' time. Are you talking about installing a washer/dryer hookup (the plumbing portion) itself or merely the machines? If it's the plumbing part, you're better off with a plumber; if it's merely the machine, the store you bought it from will usually do that for little or no cost. As to the built-ins, maybe you'd be better off with a carpenter. Generally spaking, a contractor would be used to supervise a major renovation involving all of these areas.

2.

try myhome renovations. they work with middle to high end projects

3.

tim kelly 917-783-5649.
great guy and business, great product. does any scale work from entire gutting and renovation to installing shelves.

4.

First of all you need to look at your buildings alteration agreement to see what is required if even allowed to install a W/D. They will certainly need a pan installed and an automatic shut off. You might have to run a dedicated line to the appliances. And there is the problem of running a supply water line to the washer AND a waste line. The dryer will also most likely have to be a ventless. What might seem like an easy project for a house in the suburbs can be a major undertaking in the city. It also may be that you seem like a difficult customer and contractors will not want to work with you.

5.

For bigger jobs like renovating your kitchen, bathroom or you know, everything, call Oriental Construction on Broadway and Prince and they MIGHT help you out: Oriental Construction Inc (212) 780-9390 628 Broadway. They usually work referral only and have a variety of jobs in the city both residential and commercial. If you can get them, you're lucky. They did apartments and a retail store for me.

6.

This is a question for apartmenttherapy.com

7.

you can try Boyfriend for Hire. Dumb name i know, but they really helped me out on my apartment after i had several bad contractor experiences.

8.

Try

http://www.servicemagic.com

9.

I used servicemagic.com. You pick what service you need and then contractors can contact you. Normally they are a little hungrier and you can negotiate the bids. You can also read reviews.

10.

try the contractors from Chinatown. They are cheap, require low wages and sometimes their work is ok.

Plus, they speak minimal english so you can take advantage of the prices

Hugs and Kisses!

11.

This job is just much too small for any decent contractor. Here's how it would play out, the contract sees that this is a small job, but because of all the hassle of going to your place and packing tools, doing paper work, he has to charge over what you probably would want to pay. You think it's pretty minor, so really never want to pay the contractor for the hassle.

BTW, when calling around don't say the job is "pretty minor". Contractors know "pretty minor" means pretty cheap client.

Basically at the end of the day these little jobs are not worth the average contractor's time.

The first poster is right, for example I believe Sears will install your appliance, or you need a plumber. For the shelf, your best luck might be to find a super of a building around the block who is nearby and can drop in to do this. No guarantees on the quality of work that route though. But if it is pretty minor, maybe you just want to buy a hammer and get some cut wood from the lumber yard, or get some installable shelves from Bed Bath and Beyond.

12.

i've had great results with perfect renovations on atlantic avenue in brooklyn heights. while i believe they specialize in bigger jobs, they may be able to help out or offer advice and a referral.

13.

I hear that Brooklyn white guy that sleeps on the old thrown out sofa & in the volvo does a great job.

14.

I've heard mediocre reviews about Perfect Renovations. But I'm happy to hear the good review. We need a good contractor in the area.

15.

do a search on this site for myk henry. i used him for a bunch of things and i was very satisfied. (i think he's out of the country until the end of the month – if you can wait, i think it would be worth it.)

16.

perfect renovations is garbage!!!!

17.

I'd help if I knew Brooklyn.

Still, it seems weird you have to ask the forum. If you just purchased, your real estate agent should be giving you lists of contractors. If you didn't use an agent, the seller's broker should be doing it just to get on your good side when you sell in five years.

18.

Do it yourself, you participle-dangling lard ass.

19.

Methinks the word ‘meetings’ gives away the problem.

What contractor / Boyfriend for Hire / superintendent / perfect renovations is going to endure the torture of sitting in on endless project planning meetings, writing proposals, producing references etc etc, all for putting up a freakin shelf.

Any competent person will quickly become unavailable ASAP, and wisely so.

Have to agree with #18

20.

I'll do it all for a thousand dollars. no questions asked.

21.

Getting anything done to your apartment in NYC requires endless patience and the willingness to make endless phone calls. Over the course of the seven months I've had to locate a plumber, an electrician, a blinds installer, a window washer, a wallpaper installer, and a "man with a van" mover; with the exception of the mover (thanks CitiMove!) locating each one was an incredible hassle.

That being said, unless you have described the job wrong, the earlier commenters are right: You need a carpenter and a plumber, unless you're relocating walls and doing major plumbing work to put in a W/D from scratch.

If you're just having a W/D installed into an existing hookup and can't get it from the store you bought from, I got adequate service from Drain Brain in Brooklyn - although I had to read the manual with the guy, at least they returned phone calls and they were significantly cheaper than some other places I called. I think I paid around $100, and got quotes of up to $300 or more. When calling, make sure you can visually describe your hookup and know the model of your machine in case asked.

For shelves, if you want something fairly simple Gothic Cabinetcraft will build things to order and in some cases may be willing to install onsite. You can also take the classic NY approach and just ask your super if he would be willing to do the installation for a fee or can recommend someone who will; bear in mind that you often do get what you pay for, and people will often claim they can do certain jobs they don't know what to do.

And even if you don't feel like it, be unfailingly courteous and polite to every single workman you deal with. If someone feels you're not going to be a hassle to work for they might be more willing to do a smaller job - and will certainly do a better job. And don't expect to get good work out of someone after bitterly arguing about their fee first - it's better to comparison shop first so you know what is a reasonable price to pay, then ask for a reasonable discount from someone who's in the ballpark.

22.

D865GBF AAC25827-408 my motherboard ....
i have a ram of 256 Mb 266 Mhz and i have increased it by adding a ram of 256 Mb 333Mhz . will this two ram work together or will conflict with each other.