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We recommend a general contractor
10:51 AM 02/19/2013
Crown Heights, NY
Every six months or so, I post a recommendation for our contractor. He renovated our house 5 years ago and has since provided similar services to many people and families who have responded to these postings. All of six of us are very happy customers and I can provide you with everyone's contact information for you to call, receive independent appraisals of his services and maybe get brownstone tours.
It is my belief that he is the the least expensive, highest quality contractor on the market and consistently comes in at 75% less than (or lower) than the next lowest bid that people receive.
His name is Mr. Lin, is fully licensed (Heng Yip Construction), speaks fluent Cantonese and Mandarin and some basic english. He has a translator that assists throught the contract process. Five of the six people who have hired him through this website speak no Chinese, so don't be too concerned - you can ask them how they pulled it off with zero communication issues (as far as I know). Mr. Lin is always on site working with his team, does one major job at a time and is always on time six days a week. Most importantly, he is kind, honorable - doesn't provide a lowball estimate then hit you with expensive add-ons and change orders - and provides many gifts and does many favors during the project. For example, he gave us free skylight over our staircase and a new basement floor and underground pipes when it turned out our plubming was clogged (the house had been abandonned for 10 years) and the entire floor needed to jackhammered, pipes and T's replaced and a new floor poured. Five years later I'm still in disbelief that he did this for basically no charge because he knew we were out of cash. For reasons like this, I continue to pay it forward, post for him once in a while and introduce him to another lucky family. We think of him as a guardian angel.
Feel free to call me at 646 527-4286 if you want him to come by for an estimate or call for references. I recently put together some before and after pictures of our house in a pdf that I can email you. They are awesome. Andrew
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Crown Heights, NY
I think he'll travel to NJ, but not in a capacity where your work would require a permit that would specifically require him to be licensed in NJ. He is licensed only in New York State. If licensed work is required, and if you are so inclined, an option may be for someone else toissue the permit (like an architect or CM) and hire Mr. Lin as a sub.
12:14 PM 02/20/2013 | 0 Votes
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Crown Heights, NY
I just noticed that my posting suggests a 75% savings, but I meant 25%. Sorry, but hopefully people figure that out. As for anonymousmai's question, I hope someone responds, but if they are like me, may not use Brownstoner any more since after the renovation (except I am prompted by reponses to this post). If you take the leap of faith and reach out to me or Mr. Lin (his number above), you can visit all his last 4-5 renovations and his current, active one in the Bronx. Those are real and can't be contrived and I basically don't know these people other than through some correspondence and a tour of my house. Lastly, maybe it is odd to continue to help him, but I am forever indebted to Mr. Lin for "saving us" during our renovation and don't feel that writing an occassional post and a few tours a year is too terribly conspicuous. Byw, another of his customer did add a comment to my last post many months ago. Her name is Rufina and he renovated her house a 2 projects ago.
9:44 AM 05/12/2013 | 0 Votes
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