Local contractor sees upswing in interior remodeling
John Sobiech is seeing steady improvement in the slump that has plagued the construction and home improvement business.
“We’ve been busy all winter, and that’s usually our slowest time of the year,” said Sobiech, owner of Bella Vista Contractors.
“It’s a lot more fun when business is good,” he added. “I think people are getting more comfortable spending some resources in home improvements, such as an addition to their present home, deck construction or interior remodeling.”
Sobiech said the building-boom homes of the previous decade are getting old enough that people are updating.
“We’re doing a lot of kitchen and bathroom remodels, flooring updates and countertop updates,” he said. He said ceilings are getting lots of attention, too.
“Another improvement we’re doing more of all the time is removing popcorn texture from ceilings and replacing it with modern orange peel or knock-down texture,” he said.
Sobiech believes an updated home is more enjoyable to live in and will sell faster. “I know from working with realtors that an updated home is lot more marketable than one that is not,” he said.
With spring around the corner, Sobiech suggests that homeowners think about outside projects, such as exterior painting, pressure washing and staining/sealing of their decks and docks. Many area homes have vinyl siding, which collects mildew, especially on the north and east sides where there is not much sunlight. Pressure washing, which removes mildew, should be done often because the mildew is more difficult to remove the longer it stays on.
Sobiech said it’s important for homeowners to know that small jobs are just as important as large jobs.
“We do all types of handyman work, no matter how small — it’s the way we built our business,” he said.
Bella Vista Contractors has served all of Northwest Arkansas since 1998. The company carries an Arkansas residential building license, along with liability and workers compensation insurance.
It is also a member of the Bella Vista Business Association and the Better Business Bureau.
Sobiech can be reached at (479) 903-1630, (479) 855-0348 or online at www.bvcontractors.com.