The SC Sentinel mentioned us in an article about the flood recovery. LINK
Contractors offer their services to merchants, homeowners in Capitola Village
By JONDI GUMZ Posted: 03/30/2011 01:30:59 AM PDT CAPITOLA — Merchants and homeowners in Capitola Village can tap a variety of resources to choose a contractor to repair and rebuild after last week’s flood damage. They can look for local contractors online at www.SantaCruzConstructionGuild.com or Santa Cruz County Builders Exchange at www.scbuild. com. Projects also can be posted in the Builders Exchange plan room.
The Contractors State License Board recommends getting at least three bids and hiring only licensed contractors. Licenses can be verified at www.cslb.ca.gov. “Be real cautious,” said Mayor Dennis Norton, recommending asking for recent references, writing out an agreement, and choosing a local contractor. “Do not pay more than 10 percent in advance.”
At the Construction Guild website, Frank Vickner of Bay Area Floors in Soquel offered to install flooring materials at cost to help Capitola residents damaged by flooding to rebuild. Ron Myers, a certified building performance inspector in Santa Cruz, advised property owners to use probes to check moisture levels before moving on to repair work. “If you start to close things up without actually drying everything out, it will lead to mold issues,” he warned. Most of the damage will require at the least drywall and floor repairs.
“Many of the contractors have already expressed the desire to help and provide the best prices possible,” said Kim Hogan of the Builders Exchange. “Many of my good friends were wiped out by this, but spirits seem to be high because there has been such an outpouring of help and support.”
Soquel painting contractor Gunnar Hassel, working Tuesday at Amy Tognazzini’s Hot Feet shoe stop in the Village, said he was giving her a price break even though the past four years has been “the worst” for his business. “I’ve done work for her before,” he said. Hogan offered storage space at the Builders Exchange at no cost to several merchants but no one has taken her up on it, she said. Several Exchange members have agreed to help shovel out mud from under the homes in Pacific Cove Mobile Home Park, and Hogan is working with local churches to try to provide meals to displaced residents housed at the Capitola Inn.
Sounds like an opportunity for the Construction Guild to be offering discounts on flood related repairs to residents in Capitola Village.
Great promotion for the guild as a reliable resource for the community. Maybe those hard hit by the flooding can rest easier knowing that they don’t have o be ripped off by opportunists. Hope they read the article!