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9Hammers has it nailed Contractor network removes guesswork for homeowners ready to pursue remodeling projects or with a particular issue to take care of Date published: 3/5/2010
BY RICHARD AMRHINE For Nicole and Henry Normand, it was the master bathroom that needed work. They've lived in Edinburgh subdivision in Spotsylvania County since 2001, in a house built in 1989. "Twenty-one years. The bathroom was very '80s-looking," said Nicole Normand, adding that there was also a chronic mystery leak that was leaving a spot on the ceiling below. "It was time to do it." Like many homeowners, the Normands were aware of the horror stories. The contractor took forever. Maybe he even disappeared mid-job--with the homeowner's good-faith cash advance. Or he got the job done, but the quality of the work was just, well, substandard. So rather than roll the dice on a contractor, they called Ray Milano at 9Hammers Home Improvement. Milano is a self-described "jack-of-all-trades" contractor who started 9Hammers to provide a referral service that a homeowner could call to find a skilled and trustworthy contractor. "We do the homework that a lot of homeowners won't do," said Milano. "We do the background checks. We make sure they're properly licensed. We call the references. We know what permits and inspections are needed. We know what to look for in a contractor. The homework is already done." He has a core network of nine contractors, including himself, who have done the lion's share of their work in the Fredericksburg area. All the bases are covered--plumbing, electrical, HVAC, carpentry, tile, roofing. They have nearly 200 years of experience among them. Better still, they've worked with one another long enough to know that they share certain qualities. They're local, they're known, they're going to be around and, most importantly, they have reputations in the community to protect. Additional contractors brought in to participate in the network are similarly vetted. As one might expect, the economy has not been kind to these guys. But they've stuck with it because this is what they do and they love doing it. As the saying goes: Somebody's always looking for a good contractor. Just not as frequently these days. "Sometimes homeowners make bad decisions," said Milano, like hiring a contractor based solely on price, when spending a few extra dollars would have provided a finished product they would be happy with. "There are some guys out there who really don't know what they're doing."
Date published: 3/5/2010
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