Maintaining customer satisfaction is a crucial aspect of any business, but it’s even more important for contractors that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award. For We Love Small Jobs Handyman Services-Remodelers & Builders, the key to achieving and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction is simple: take a detail-oriented approach to each job and treat every client’s home with the utmost respect. “We do small things that our clients really appreciate, like taking off our shoes, closing doors behind us, and putting tools and materials in safe places,” says owner Moorice Tarik-El. “Simply put, we work on every home as if it was our own.”

We Love Small Jobs has been providing general contracting services for residential and light commercial clients throughout Alameda County since 1985. The company handles everything from carpentry and interior/exterior painting to electrical and plumbing work for small projects that are less than 600 square feet, which gives its customers a single point of contact throughout each phase of the construction process.

Unlike contractors that only offer small-scale handyman services and have to use subcontractors for other types of construction, We Love Small Jobs utilizes its general contracting license and highly trained technicians to supplement its handyman work with small- and medium-sized home repair and building services. “We handle service calls for things like plumbing leaks and cabinet repairs, but we also have the capabilities to remodel homes and build room additions,” explains Mr. Tarik-El. “Our services are designed to improve our customers’ homes, and we customize those services to meet their specific needs.”

Another distinguishing attribute of We Love Small Jobs is its dedication to planning and coordination, which Mr. Tarik-El says is an important aspect of every project. “We put a lot of time into the estimating process and planning stages. In fact, before any job begins, we conduct thorough research to determine the best, most cost-effective materials to use. Planning ahead allows us to ensure every project runs smoothly and meets its deadlines.”

Make sure you do plenty of research before taking on a do-it-yourself home improvement project. With dozens of home improvement shows on TV and online instructional videos that show everything from how to fix a squeaky door to how to replace flooring, it’s no surprise that DIY has become a mantra for many homeowners throughout the Bay Area and beyond. But unless you’re fairly knowledgeable about this type of work, taking on a home repair or construction project yourself can set you up for expensive mistakes and unintended consequences.

“Some people attempt home repairs or improvements even though they don’t have the skills and abilities of a true craftsman,” says Moorice Tarik-El, owner of We Love Small Jobs Handyman Services-Remodelers & Builders in Oakland. “There are many fine points to construction work that can only be learned through experience. That’s usually what’s missing in DIY construction projects—the work just isn’t the same quality as you’d get from a professional.”

Mr. Tarik-El says the real danger comes when individuals with some DIY experience market themselves as professional contractors. “Inexperienced people aren’t able to offer the same quality and service as a licensed contractor or tradesman. It’s important to hire licensed contractors who have years of professional experience. Anyone can build a beautiful website or give you a few references, but you need to look at a company as a whole and make a decision based on its entire reputation.”
To determine if you should tackle a job yourself or leave it to a professional, consider the following information:

Do it yourself
Decorative projects such as indoor painting, moulding and replacing trim Changing drawer pulls and hardware Replacing existing light fixtures and ceiling fans Small tiling projects

Leave it to a contractor
Anything to do with gas lines or electricity Window replacements Insulation and weatherproofing Removing trees Roof installations or repairs Major home renovations such as additions and gutted remodels

Q: How quickly can you start my project?

A: We can schedule most jobs within a week or two, and we can usually get to emergency jobs in 24 to 48 hours. Once we understand the nature and urgency of your project, we can set a schedule that works best for you.

Q: How do you charge for your handyman and construction services?

A: For service calls, we have a minimum charge and hourly rate. For larger construction projects, we can give you a specific bid once we get onsite and see what needs to be done. We don’t provide estimates over the phone because we don’t know if we’ll need to open up walls or remove old materials to see what’s causing the problem.

Q: Do you clean up after every job?

A: Yes, and we take pride in our jobsite cleanliness. We keep brooms, mops, dusters and cleaning supplies with us, and there’s never an extra charge for cleanup.

Q: Can I provide my own fixtures or materials?

A: Yes, but we ask that you let us specify the products you buy so we can ensure the work will be done correctly. We only use high-quality materials, and we never mark them up—our customers pay what we pay.