Announcing the new ONLINE CONTRACTORS LIST The Saint Louis Rehabbers Club members have compiled a list of contractors and resources to assist our members in finding contractors to meet their particular needs. This online database is searchable by category and name. Users can also review and rate contractors they have used.

The Saint Louis Rehabbers Club has compiled a list of contractors and resources to assist our members in finding contractors to meet their particular needs. See the sidebar to download a PDF of the most recent version. The idea behind the list speaks to the particular experience of the individuals in our group. Each person or company name appears because of personal referrals from participants of our listserve. That being said, this should not be viewed in any way as an endorsement by us.*

We make no claim that the SLRC Contractors List is comprehensive nor do we guarantee the quality of the services provided. We intend that our members will use it as a resource, and fully expect that every homeowner will conscientiously do their own research. This might include: contacting the Better Business Bureau, checking references, and/or asking friends and others whose opinion they trust.

Remember, for those contractors whose trade is seasonal, as the weather gets warmer they will get very busy and many do not return phone calls. Usually because they just don't have the time.This can be a very frustrating situation for a homeowner so we strongly suggest scheduling your contractor of choice as early in the year as you can or as soon as you know your construction timetable.

All expectations regarding deposits and payments should be discussed with the preferred contractor before any contracts are signed or any work begins. A good faith deposit or some monies may be expected at the beginning. This is standard. It is usually one-third of the total project's cost. Of course the amount always depends on the size of the project and the scope of work. One should never, ever, ever, ever, ever – let us say it one more time – ever, pay the full amount of a project up front. Any contractor asking for complete payment before work has begun should be treated with a big ole' truckload of skepticism. Should this happen, we recommend the homeowner run, not walk, to another contractor no matter seriousness or immediacy of the project.

When working with a general contractor...

• Take a look at the project they are currently working on.
• Check them out with the Better Business Bureau.
• Make sure they are insured for YOUR project specifically.
• Talk to five past clients from within the past six months.

Link to our Top Ten Tips on hiring a contractor

How to nominate a contractor to the list

If you’d like to add a company or contractor to our list,
here are the rules:

1) We prefer city-based businesses [but we do not exclude contractors and resources because of their location].
2) A recommendation must come from a member of the Rehabbers Club listserve who has either purchased services from the company they are recommending, or are willing to vouch for that company's work.
3) A company cannot recommend it self.

All folks submitting new recommendations, please provide the following:

– complete business name
– general category
– contact person's name [optional]
– primary phone number

To correct inaccuracies or to submit a new referral, email us.

COMING SOON!
Sharing information on contractors

Our members have asked for it, so we are working on providing a place on this site for those who wish to share details about the contractors they've hired from our list. This feedback will be accessible to all members. We hope this service will be an invaluable tool in creating a more complete picture of many of the companies and individuals on our list.

ESSAY:
Finding a rehab house
Dave Lewis

How should you go about finding the right rehab project? It can be a daunting task, to be sure, and it is likely to involve you in both a physical and emotional way. Unlike dating, where there's room for trial and error and adjustment; rehab-hunting is more like choosing a spouse, with whom you will commit your every resource, from a showroom. In this case, St. Louis is the showroom, and lists you get from the Internet, LRA, and realtors, are merely catalogues to peruse.

Unlike cultures where some grownup gets to pick your spouse, you're on your own in this venture. It may eventually provide you with the perfect structure where you can act out your every dream and make it just like you imagine. It might also ruin you, make you bitter, waste your time, and be disappointing in every way.The intention of the people in this group is to help you avoid the pitfalls and ease the process of finding, repairing your dream home and enjoying your neighborhood.

Don't loose sight of your dream!
More important than finding the perfect house, is finding the right place to settle and live. That would mean discovering the right neighborhood that you're happy with or that you can adjust to suit your desires. You won't know that until you do some research. Neighborhoods ARE the neighbors. You can just move in and take what's there and try to outlive all the disagreeable ones, you can try to chase them all away, and you can do what's necessary to attract desirable neighbors. Likely you'll do all of the above if you position yourself correctly. To get the feel of a neighborhood, you need to live there. So my suggestion is to make an educated guess as to where you'd like to live and get an apartment there.

Before or after moving in, go to neighborhood meetings and get to know people. Consider their advice! Once there, take long walks and become familiar with your surroundings. Meet more people and be social. Visit rehabs in progress and let your neighbors get to know you. Find out where the action is and who you want to be friends with. Soon, you'll be in with the "in crowd", and with them, sort out the who's who of the neighborhood. You'll discover who's moving, who's selling, and who's renting. You'll figure out where the stability is and you'll learn where the instability comes from. You'll learn where your resources are, which kids to trust and who has the skills that you may be able to tap one day. Pay particular attention to the youngsters, they may one day be your adult neighbors.

As you interface with the neighbors, and they with you, you'll be well positioned to know what houses are going to be available for you to purchase. You might be lucky to learn which buildings are drug houses, too, where disgruntled landlords may be willing to get out from under non-performing properties. Vacant buildings are often available for your inspection, or are prime candidates for your research. As you narrow your search by eliminating buildings you just don't like, and those that are not available, you'll soon develop the drive and initiative to go after some of your choices.

By this time you know how the neighborhood positions itself around your dream home and can better picture yourself rehabbing and living in that home. All the while you've been getting your ducks in a row in terms of financing and design. You can decide which professionals you can work with toward actualizing your dreams. In many cases you may be able to purchase the property directly from the owner, and you'll need to know how to do that.

I'm going to stop here, and assume that you've read the many posts on our listserve about purchasing and rehabbing. My intent here is only to promote an idea about finding a property to rehab. From here you can mostly refer back to the list. There are folks there who are already familiar with their neighborhoods, and are eager for you to be their neighbor.

Link to St. Louis' page on rehabbing in the city

Link to information on how subscribe to our list