Jackson Heights Life

Just bought a place in JH and am moving in a couple of weeks.  I can't wait!  While I'm not going to do any major renovations right now, I'll likely start updating slowly over the next year.  These boards have been extremely helpful and I've learned a ton about the neighborhood.  So in regards to home improvement, does anyone have recommendations for the following:

1) locksmith
2) electrician
3) general contractor
4) hardwood floor guy
5) tile guy
6) plumber
7) any other home improvement contractors you can recommend (molding, skim coating, etc. [I know general contractors do this, but if you know if any specialists, that would be great too])

Any sage advice when dealing with contractors before, during, and after renovation would be appreciated too.  Thanks so much, in advance, for any help! 

I am also sorry to not provide answers, only more questions. I was logging on to post similar questions and was quite surprised to find a thread created fewer than two hours earlier. I have just purchased an apartment in western Jackson Heights. Before I move my furniture in, I want the apartment spackled and painted, and the wooden floors scraped and polished. I have no idea which companies to contact. Are there painting and flooring companies used by very many residents to which I can get a referral? Or simply good, reliable ones in the general area?

Katie,

You've asked a great question, and hopefully people with some good recommendations for you will speak up soon!

But until then, I recommend searching the archives of the JHFamilies Listserv (you'll need to join first if you haven't done this already).  There is a lot of good advice to be found there.

Having just went through three contractors, I can tell you who to stay away from.
I also have several other recommendations of people we didn't use because they were too pricey for us, but they might be good for you.

1) locksmith - Joseph Locksmith on 37th Avenue (our co-op uses them exclusively)
2) electrician - None I can recommend, stay away from Jay Dionysius (JCCG)
3) general contractor - Depends on your budget and Scope and how much you care about quality versus price.
4) hardwood floor guy - 1800WOODFLOORS.COM (located in Astoria)
5) tile guy - the GC should do this.
6) plumber - Anthony Paseggio - 718-639-5190
7) any other home improvement contractors you can recommend (molding, skim coating, etc. [I know general contractors do this, but if you know if any specialists, that would be great too])

I wouldn't recommend splitting the work up amongst sub-contractors unless you have ALOT of time to do the oversight yourself. You think you'll be saving money, but it will be a far worse stressful headache than you can imagine.

-From An Architect
Send a private message if you'd like to talk further about contractors.

Thanks for the recommendations, Spanishfish and ECG.  My "membership is waiting approval by the group owner" over at the JHFamilies Listserv (I registered yesterday) -- can't check out the archives till I'm approved -- but I'm eager to utilize the resource. 

I just renovated my kitchen.  It was a nightmare.  I fired the first contractor and had to hire a new one plus an electrician to redo the contractor's electrical work.  But now that it's done I can say I was happy with the licensed electrician, the granite installer and the guy who did my hard wood floors.  And the second contractor did a good job considering he had to redo a lot of the first guys work which I think is always more difficult than starting from scratch.  I have to stress that a year ago I had my floors done based on my best friends recommendation and I thought those people did a horrible job.  The point I'm making is this: sometimes it doesn't matter if your friends loved or hated them... the job they do for you is all that matters.

Electrician: Pete 347-539-6986
floor guy: Cary  347-219-1719
granite installer: Caesar 646-235-4669 (he has the worst voice mail recording EVER... don't be put off by it... he sounds like an idiot but he's really a great granite guy and very honest.
Tiles:  I only go to Nemo tiles in Jamaica although there's International Tile over on 21st in Astoria.
Second contractor: Esad 917-674-0434

First contractor's name was Sadok.  He's Israeli (I only say this as a reference point in case any one ever comes across him... RUN FROM HIM!  He's a nightmare.)

Michael Carfagna recommends his wife who is an interior designer. There was a gut renovation on the top floor of my building and I heard that Ms. C. was the expert.

Not sure what this has to do with the thread. Am down with a cold or something. Hmmm - wrong preposition - under influence? Oh dear. Not going any farther with this.

Katie, also some advice from what I just went thru with my kitchen: most of these guys ask for cash.    I gave 1st contractor  2/3 cash up front. He came highly recommended by a friend so I felt safe.  When I fired him and had to redo most of his work, I just lost that money and had no recourse to get any of it back.  Most of the guys who do general contracting work don't usually offer to do contracts or deal memos.  The only one who did was the licensed electrician.   And since a lot of these guys come recommended thru friends you may feel, like I did, you don't need a contract.  I was wrong.  I lost about $6,000 because of work that had to be redone.  It was a costly lesson.   Even though they prefer cash, they will take checks.  Pay by check so you have proof in case you need it and have even a hand written contract of work to be done and what the cost will be for your own protection.