Our kitchen was flooded with sewage and we needed help - the remediation company came in and tore out everything. I could have a restoration or I could have a renovation - if I could find the right person. I needed someone who could step into a very confusing situation of 4 insurance companies; 3 adjusters, 2 remediation companies and me - a person who has never dealt with a renovation, never-mind a renovation under the umbrella of an insurance claim during a really bad flood season in Vancouver.
I started getting estimates. Who knew that a tiny kitchen renovation could cost as much as $45,000? This was far out of the range of possibilities as the insurance companies were only willing to pay a measly compensation for our losses. I never want to hear the words: "you are not supposed to benefit from insurance" again. Apparently, benefit means getting anything that is a bit nicer than the 1980's sewage coated kitchen that had been removed.
I asked Westside Handyman Group to come and give us a quote after finding it here on Yelp and reading the reviews - even though the reviews showed as not recommended, they looked legit to me. Mark is more of a handshake guy, but he was willing to write things up for me. He gave us a quote and a ton of advice as to how we could bring in a kitchen renovation that was within the budget that we were going to receive from the insurance claim. He even broke it down into 3 phases based on the work and the provision of funds. The job was dragged out over months, because the insurance money came in slowly and because the cabinets that we ordered took 8 weeks to be created and delivered. Mark was always reassuring and confident. He encouraged us in the process and he made the time to do the work even though by the time the cabinets arrived, he had moved on to multiple other projects. He even helped us out with advice and tool loans when we decided to do the floor tiling ourselves!
The job was finished up this last weekend (Easter weekend, but Mark came over to put on the finishing touches). I have a new kitchen now. It was torn down to the studs; the old fashioned sunshine ceiling was removed and a new ceiling with pot lights was installed. I have new cupboards and an over the range microwave. The old fashioned wall that separated the kitchen from the dining area is gone and it's now an open concept kitchen with small bar. Plus I have a huge wine rack that is attached to the wall. It's a lot nicer kitchen now. And, very importantly to me - the cost was as quoted.
I can say without reservation that if there is any work that we need down in the future, the first and hopefully only contact we will make, will be with Mark of the Westside Handyman Group. read more