Our builder is out of Libertyville and would highly recommend him as a GC. although he typically works on building homes, he also does additions and major overhauls, so might be worth the phone call. otherwise, maybe he knows of someone up here that can do a good job!

www.meyerhomesinc.com

Thanks, mairin! We'll give him a call.

Bump---

Does anyone else have recommendations for a GC in the northern Chicago area?

Thanks.

Nancy, the only one I have, so far, is Meirin's. I talked to another fellow but he had an hourly rate, which can be a problem. I liked Meirin's a lot but think I should have, at least, another 'bid'. I will meet with someone on Tuesday. If I find another, I will post here.

Teddychicago did have a gc she liked. I must have missed her. I need to follow up.

Westsider40, what did you think of Meyer Homes? Was its bid reasonable? And, if your appointment with the second GC goes well on Tuesday, let me know. My sister's project is relatively small but I think she needs a GC to keep it going and accomplish all of the aspects of her home repair. If you hear from Teddychicago about the GC she liked, please pass it on. Thanks.

I work for a while with Mike in different projects
and I will strongly recommend, easy talk easy working together:
mike 312-593-4562
lazar logan inc.

Thank you, giacomo_it. We'll contact Mike of Lazar Logan Inc.

Hi Nancy, Yes I liked Meirin's gc, and his price seemed ok but his is the ONLY price I have so I think it best just to see about another. Meirin's house is beautiful and I am confident that her gc is capable and fair. He gave me a long list of references. He was very professional. He does use licensed electricians and plumbers, which is comforting and pricier. My husband likes the idea of 'licensed' til I mentioned that taxes might rise b/c we'd have permits, licensed, etc. but so what. (He's very cute- I'm a sexist pig) He's a Purdue grad with engineering degree(tho I didn't check that and have no desire to do so.)

I have done lots of remodeling(have a long neglected, never good, 1922 cottage, too) and there's an element of luck. Unless you have unlimited $$$ and demand convenience, I have had great help from people who charged little and spoke little English, and ppl who charged a lot and overcharged. I usually went with lower prices and great referrals, but this kitchen is a big job and I keep getting older.

I try not to think of the huge, 20'x30', all bells and whistles, kithcens in Atlanta that cost $50k as seen on Bang for Buck. I have a small k.

Hi nancyaustin, I can't help you but I had to say "hi!" Years and years (and years and years) ago, I lived in Deerfield, on Warwick Road just before it meets up with Carlisle Place. I went to Walden Elementary. I have many fond memories of those days. Thanks for the little trip down memory lane. ;-)

Good luck on your kitchen remodel.

My friend in Buffalo Grove just finished her kitchen and was very happy with the person she used. The finish in her kitchen is very good as well.

I just called and she's not home but I left a message and will post when she gets back to me.

> I mentioned that taxes might rise b/c we'd have permits, licensed

I think that is spin by contractors that don't want the oversight. One way you can lose without permits is your insurance can refuse to cover unpermitted remodels, lets say you have a kitchen fire. If I was buying a house with a kitchen/bath remodel I would ask about permits and verify they got them.

I had a paver patio laid and got that spin about permits so we didn't get them. They made a few errors. Failed to flash the masonary next to the wood rim joist, would have rotted it. They made steps 8-1/2" high, code is 7-1/2. Some other things. They came back and fixed it all.

I always get permits now. See some Holmes on Homes shows, you see stuff like plumbing with no cement in joints, or no P trap under tub.

Another thing, we remodeled two, almost three years ago, and applied to get our taxes lowered as all the houses in our neighborhood were selling for a LOT less then the appraised value that was used to assess the taxes. It was quite a bit of paperwork but we won the case.

We now pay less tax on our remodeled house than we did before we fixed up the kitchen. (BTW, we did everything with a permit)

Thanks for the good info re permits, inter alia and loves. Hi, waving to Lisa-I live in a suburb abutting Deerfield. Inter alia, love your user name- among other things, does it also mean Esq.?

Re insurance and coverage without permits. Both positions can be argued, as always. Off topic but, in late fall 2009, critters(rodent damage not covered-most chewers are rodents) chewed the flexible heating ducts in our 2 foot high crawl space in our 1922 cottage. Neither flexible heating ducts nor 2 foot high crawl spaces on sand are code but our carrier paid the claim, no arguments. Nothing in that house is code. It helps that we have 3 cars, 2 houses insured for years, with no other claims and a very good carrier.

Thank you, all. My sister lives in Deerfield and her children went to Walden. loves2cook4six, if you find out your friend's GC's name, that would be great. Thanks, too, for the comments on permits, etc. I'm checking out the GC angle for her because she seems to be a magnet for the unscrupulous trades---I'm hoping that I'll have better luck, but as you note, westsider40, luck plays a big role. Her budget is very limited but I think she would benefit from working with a GC who has established relationships with the various subs her projects require. She needs a tile setter, a painter, someone who sheetrocks (could be a painter) and someone to install floors--sheet vinyl in her kitchen and engineered hardwood in a hallway. Its a very small project for a GC but that's alot of subs for my sister to find and coordinate. Any help or even names of subs, I will sincerely appreciate! I am doing this from a very long distance---I'm in Austin.

Here you go: Tim Shurson. His # is 847-599-2499. Barb and Dan would be the referral.

Thanks, loves. You are very helpful. Always generous.

Hi westsider, waving back at you! I spent most of my youth in the Chicago 'burbs. My dad (and me for a brief period) worked in Glenview. My mom worked in Highland Park at a family-owned children's clothing store, long since closed. I get homesick now and then but after 22+ years here (I'm in Portland, Oregon), I don't think I could move back. I miss the magical moonlit nights of new snow but I most definitely don't miss driving in the stuff.

Nancy, you're a good sister!

loves2cook4six, thank you for Tim Shurson's name and phone number and I'll mention Barb and Dan as the people who referred him. I'll call him tomorrow. Mairin, Brad Meyer prompted replied to my email and referred me to a tile setter in the area---plus he also called the tile setter to tell him that I'd be calling. Thank you, everyone, for your advice. Although I know all of you will understand, I feel as though I can trust the recommendations I receive from all of you, but explaining the source of my referrals to my sister is a different story!!