Hiring A Professional Contractor Is A Great First Step

By Dave Halliday Photos courtesy of RaheemCo.

Whohasn’t sat in their home looking around and thinking about all the changes they would like to make?

You can knock out a wall, build an addition, add windows for natural light . . . the ideas are always flowing, but they don’t always get going — do they?

Typically, the thing holding your internal and exterior architectural visions back is that you are not qualified, equipped, or experienced in the techniques required to get the job done. Even the most skilled and equipped of the Do It Yourself individuals out there find themselves limited by time, resources, and energy.

Any of the factors noted could be holding you back from creating the living space that you dream of. We are here to assure you that there is a solution. Hiring a qualified professional local contractor can be the first step to achieving your vision.

We at Biz X were fortunate enough to sit down with one such contractor to sort through the options and services they provide. RaheemCo. (RaheemCo.ca) located at 2500 Central Avenue in Windsor was launched nine months ago and they have been working hard to service the needs of their local clientele ever since. Already the company has developed an association with local businesses such as Ambassador Property Contractors and Property Hunters

Raheem Younes the Founder, Owner, and President of RaheemCo. — was gracious enough to share some of the insight he has garnered during his five years in the field. He was the ideal choice for our column in this February edition, which honours Black History Month and entrepreneurs, as he is a proud Black owned business operator.

Asking our first question, we were surprised by the diverse list provided. What services do you offer? “It is extensive,” replies an enthusiastic Younes taking a deep breath. “Lot clearing, demolition, excavation, tree removal, renovation, drywall, mudding, taping, sanding, painting, flooring, framing, insulation, landscaping, lawn care, snow removal, cleaning, organizing, concrete, interlocking brick, foundations, property management, home development, interior and exterior design, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC.”

Is everything you’ve noted in-house, or do you have sub-contractors you use as well? “Everything is in-house except for the utilities,” indicates Younes adding, “I would like to eventually hire my own plumbers, electricians, and HVAC team.”

We see that you provide services for both residential and industrial clientele. Why is RaheemCo. a good fit for residential clients? “We like to provide a very reasonable rate for residential customers, and we offer a wide variety of discounts for returning customers,” he notes. “We understand not everything is achievable from a budgetary perspective and if something may be a bit out of budget, we can suggest other options that may be relatable.”

Do you provide any advice or input during the planning stages of a proposed project? “Absolutely, if anything is necessary to be completed along the way for better improvements it is recommended and suggested,” states Younes. “Planning a project will consist of a thorough breakdown of steps involved, identifying problems we may run into or things that may need to be upgraded along the way to meet code.”

What are the benefits of utilizing a fully accredited contractor as opposed to the “Handyman”? “Professional quality of work will be a given,” informs Younes adding, “Unlike most handymen, we are fully insured with liability insurance, and WSIB.”

We understand you now also have cleaning services. “Yes, we offer both cleaning and organizing services and building renovation clean-up services,” he indicates. “Whether you need your bathroom tidied or a bathroom renovation cleaned, swept, mopped, and dusted, we now provide all of those services.” What would you say are the essential components to successfully satisfying your clients? “Knowing that they have hired a responsible, reliable company puts a customer at ease knowing that the job is getting done in a timely fashion, at a reasonable price, and without the thought of something going wrong,” points out Younes. “A customer being confident in the company they choose to do the work only makes everyone’s life easier.”

Do you offer any follow up services upon completion of a project? “Yes,” replies Younes, concluding “Aside from customer satisfaction, a returning customer is what we do truly desire. Someone coming back with another project because they were happy and satisfied with previous work is one of the best compliments, next to the customer saying ‘good job’ and ‘thank you’!”

So, we have decided that the message here is you can basically achieve whatever you really desire when it comes to your living space.

The suggestion is that you don’t have to become a master builder, nor do you have to sacrifice your time and enjoyment of life to realize this achievement.

Yes, there are those times when you complete one of your home projects on your own and enjoy that feeling of accomplishment, but there is also value and peace of mind involved in hiring a qualified, fully equipped, professional contractor for your next big project.

What a great idea! This is probably the perfect way to enjoy your home rather than just always working on it. Think about it.