News Releases

MILWAUKEE/NARI MEMBERS’ HANDYMAN SERVICES HELP BUSY HOMEOWNERS, SPOUSES GET JOBS COMPLETED
July 8, 2010

MILWAUKEE, WIS. – If that extensive and growing “Honey Do” list has gotten you in trouble with the one you love, consider Monday, July 19, 2010, as a day of reprieve. It’s the day American’s will celebrate National Get Out Of The Doghouse Day. This could be a day to consider how those little home improvement items will get done and keep the peace around your home.

If you are short on time or the skill to be a do-it-yourselfer, hiring a handyman service to complete the tasks may be right for you. How to find a reputable firm and who to select to do work in your home may then be the only obstacle. Members of the Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council, Inc., the area’s leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource for more than 48 years, offer these tips and suggestions to selecting a firm to complete these jobs and keep peace on the home front.

Handyman service providers are hired to complete various small jobs including maintenance, painting, and typically, light remodeling. Services can include installing new windows, hanging doors, painting, replacing bathroom plumbing and light fixtures, and similar work. According to Jim Ziglinski, CR, owner of Around Your House, a Milwaukee handyman service, it’s important to hire a firm with the knowledge of all the various issues that may impact a project.

“For example, in a bathroom job, hire a contractor with an understanding of the plumbing, electrical, moisture and condensation issues, and the required lead certification,” Ziglinski said. This background knowledge will help to ensure the job will be done well.

Fix-It Brothers in Oak Creek is a full service remodeling, handyman, and state-certified home inspection firm that handles jobs from “roof to basement” according to its owner Ed Dirk. Dirk’s company also constructs additions to homes and offers recommendations to homeowners looking for help around the house. He suggests asking friends and family which firms they’ve worked with in the past. “Word of mouth referrals, the Better Business Bureau, and Milwaukee/NARI are great resources to find contractors you can trust,” he said.

Ziglinski also advises homeowners to pay attention to credentials like lead certifications, family-owned operations, and professional memberships, such as NARI, to find reputable firms.

The Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Council was chartered in July 1961, as a Chapter of the National Home Improvement Council. In May of 1982, the National Home Improvement Council merged with the National Remodelers Association to form NARI – the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. The Council’s goals of encouraging ethical conduct, professionalism, and sound business practices in the remodeling industry have led to the remodeling industry’s growth and made NARI a recognized authority in that industry. With over 900 members, the Milwaukee Chapter is the nation’s largest.

For more information or to receive a free copy of an annual membership roster listing all members alphabetically and by category, and the booklet, “Milwaukee/NARI’s Remodeling Guide,” call (414) 771-4071 or visit the Council’s Web site at www.milwaukeenari.org.