It is extremely rare for me to do an online review of anyone for anything. However, when I find a contractor this exceptional, it is almost a moral imperative that I do so.
If you are the President of a homeowners association, condominium, or the like, as I am, then I do not need to tell you how time-consuming and trying it can be to accomplish anything greater than routine maintenance and repair, especially a project that must access everyone’s space, that requires everyone’s cooperation, and demands a special assessment to boot. You can imagine the meetings.
So, when it came time for the enormous task of replacing the roofs of our two buildings, I braced for an ordeal: so-called contractors who barely look things over, whose proposals are just shot from the hip, who can’t show certification for the materials or methods they use, who can’t produce the necessary proof of both business liability and workers compensation insurance, whose corporate status has lapsed with the State, who don’t show up, who don’t feel any obligation to communicate timely during the process, and so on. In other words, the usual parade. And for this job, I did get those circus acts . . . until Peace of Mind Exterior Company (POM). Yes, I did a little eye roll at the company name, but I was happily made to put all my cynicism aside.
Here was a company President, Fidel Avalos, who was more than a salesman, who was hands-on, who I did not have to wait on, who got back to me timely whenever I needed it (and that was often, as you might guess, with all the to-and-fro of shepherding a homeowners association). Blew away every roofing contractor who came out, not to mention every other contractor we’ve had for anything else for at least the last seven years. Brought a crew, not just himself and a clipboard, and got them all up on the roofs, assembled photos, a surprisingly thorough inspection report, and an honest-to-God proposal. Made my (usually thankless) job a LOT easier presenting the project to our board and members.
Also decisive for us—and missing from other contractor’s—was POM’s evidence of certification for the roofing materials and installation methods (GAF), on account of which we obtained an exceptionally long warranty. No one else could prove this assurance. All this is not to mention a better price and all the boxes quickly and early checked for insurance, license, and the rest of the prerequisites every commercial client has to establish beforehand.
POM continued to be true to their name on the job, and Fidel was ever present and available every step the way, getting the City permit, explaining the process, and showing the evidence of what needed to be done and why. As the retired son of a commercial and residential contractor, I had the time and knowledge most would not to understand and track work like this. And I can tell you I was never disappointed. I thought contractors like this died with my father. What a relief!
Now, of course, any construction disturbs the daily routines of residents. But POM’s crew was always courteous and professional, and never left at the end of the day without cleaning things up in a way that made things still feel normal. If you are an association officer, you will appreciate the great value of this peacekeeping among your members. There’s that word again: “peace”!
No joke: We have solid and great looking roofs now that have all our members relieved and thankful. When’s the last time that happened at your property? Cheers, POM!
Dennis F., Highland Park, IL
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