5 Star Success: Boston Homeowners Value Contractor Reliability

Late last year, Ben and Kerry Grunder built an addition on their three-bedroom ranch home in North Reading. It was their final major home improvement project after years of remodeling. However, the home still needed one final touch to create a uniform look: siding.

Ben Grunder had two requirements for the siding project. First, he wanted to find a high-quality, durable product. Second, he knew he needed a qualified contractor who was not only familiar with the product but would complete the job professionally. As Grunder gathered estimates from contractors, he studied a variety of siding options and chose insulated vinyl.

After receiving two bids, Grunder searched online for a third contractor. He came across ServiceMagic and discovered Peabody-based US Home Improvement. John Carroll, one of the partners in the company, impressed Grunder on several levels.

"John was the first contractor to give an estimate who had the type of product I wanted," Grunder says. "He also explained the product he used [Solid Core Siding from Crane]. He had good things to say about it, and his price was competitive."

US Home Improvement's thorough work didn't end there. Grunder says that Carroll and his crew of four maintained their professionalism over the course of the seven-day project—something that hadn't always been the case with contractors Grunder previously used.

"My No. 1 pet peeve is these contractors who are so wishy-washy—the ones who don't show up for two weeks and leave pallets and boxes all around your house," Grunder says. "But John and his crew were straightforward with me. He was there when he said he was going to be. The guys kept the job site nice and clean. They didn't disrupt our lives."

The end result was equally remarkable. US Home Improvement removed the existing siding, put up a vapor barrier and installed the product on a home that Grunder describes as crooked and quirky. "It's an older, settled house, and it's not a perfect rectangle," he says. "The crew adapted and figured out ways to side the house in a functional and aesthetically pleasing way."

This past winter, the elements had their way with the home. Powerful wind gusts ripped off two panels of siding. By fixing the problem within days, US Home Improvement demonstrated why it received its 5-star rating from Grunder.

Such service should be the norm, not the exception, Carroll says: "We always address issues as quickly as we can. Our goal is customer satisfaction."