FAQ’s

Clicking on the question will take you to the corresponding answer

What areas do you work in?
Do you provide estimates, quotes or charge by the hour?
What is your hourly rate?
Who provides the materials?
I’d like to use your service. What do I do?
What happens if I’m not happy with the work?
What happens if the craftsman damages my property?
How soon can you do the work?
What kind of work to you undertake?
I need lots of quite different jobs done. How many craftsmen will you send?

What areas do you work in?

UNITED PROPERTIES specializes in Kent County and western Ottawa Counties

Do you provide estimates, quotes or charge by the hour?

All three.

Hourly Rate: If the job is small and relatively straightforward, we’ll use our judgment during your initial call to assess how long the work will take and schedule a visit from a craftsman based on that assessment. However, due to the variables experienced when dealing with home repairs and the difficulty in assessing the work on the phone, the task may take longer (or shorter) than estimated. Some time, when you open a wall or take down a light fixture you may find something unexpected that was not part of the original assessment. The charge will also include any materials that are required plus carriage (charged at the hourly rate) for any materials that need to be collected.
Quotation: In many cases an exact quote can be given, depending on the type and size of the project. This can be done when we are dealing with all the known factors, for example, if you need shingles torn off and replaced, that is straight forward, however if after you get the old shingles off you have rotted boards, that would be an extra. If the task is straightforward we’ll be able to provide a fixed price – a quote – for doing the work.
Estimate: In older buildings and depending on the scope of the project, this is the most common method. With our extensive experience, most times, we know what to expect and can take the anticipated into consideration. However, if a house is purchased from a bank or tax sale and you are not able to test the water pressure, furnace and electrical system, it is impossible to know if these items need work or replacement.

What is your hourly rate?

It varies according to the type of the work required. Different levels of experience needed are charged at different rates. This can usually be calculated when we understand the needs. Please call us to discuss your requirements

Who provides the materials?

The choice is yours. If you’d rather buy your own materials, that’s okay with us. We’ll give you a “labor only” price. However, in every job we have ever done our clients have had us supply the material.

I’d like to use your service. What do I do?

Call us and let us know what you want done. We will set up a time that is convenient for you to look at the project and discuss what you want done. You will be given an estimate or quote and a scheduled time to start.

What happens if I’m not happy with the work?

In this unlikely event, we’ll re-visit your property to examine the work. If it hasn’t been completed to the high standard we expect, we’ll put it right free of charge.

What happens if the craftsman damages my property?

In the very unlikely event that this should happen, UNITED PROPERTIES will repair the damage and no cost to you. You would also be covered under our insurance if something major would happen.

How soon can you do the work?

That depends on the scope of the project and permits required, normally we can get started within a 2 week period.

What kind of work to you undertake?

Anything from installing a mail box to lifting a house and repairing a foundation.

I need lots of quite different jobs done. How many craftsmen will you send?

It depends on the project, we do have craftsman the specialize in one or two areas and we have others that can do many handyman type of projects. If we are doing a complete remodel in an older home that needs heating, plumbing, electrical, carpentry, drywall and paint, there would be several different people on the job. If it is just a painting job, we may have 2-4 painters. If it something very small that needs a handyman only, there would only be one person.