Those of you who have read my pieces over the years know that my real estate career started by accident. For those of you who don't, here are the Bill's Cliff Notes:
I was a young banker and my wife was an accountant. Adding our salaries together, we were barely getting by. I found a book in the library by William Nickerson, "How I Made $1,000,000 In Real Estate," read it and then we decided the advice there would be our meal ticket to a better financial life.
We began by buying, renovating and selling or renting the large 19th Century homes of Galveston. That required us to not only learn about construction, but to also learn which electricians, plumbers, carpenters, air conditioning mechanics and trim men were competent and fair with their charges, and which ones weren't.
That's a huge learning curve and not getting it right can quickly put a remodeler in the poor house.
Recently, we've had to have some significant repair and updating work done to our home in Dallas, and it has required us to begin looking for and testing a whole new set of companies and their employees. Over the next few days, I'm going to give you some that we have found to be real winners.
MIKE ALEXANDER
TEXAS ELECTRICAL
214 289-0639
Many handymen and do-it-yourselfers feel they, themselves, are competent to do home electrical work. And that's what one of the previous owners of our home thought, too. Unfortunately his knowledge and ability in this area was slightly on the positive side of zip. Most of what he did was far from meeting code and some was dangerous.
Mike Alexander, the one man owner-employee of Texas Electrical came to us from a random search of the classified ads of a neighborhood magazine. He spent two days here. He came on time, worked quickly, was very neat and proud of his work, and his charges when it came time to collect were very fair.
Dallas area residents who need residential or commercial electrical work would be wise to check out Texas Electrical. Mike is a real winner!
Tomorrow, I'm going to help you to know and be able to depend on a fine air conditioning company. You're sure to be surprised...there is a REAL winner among those in Dallas.
*It is unfortunate that tort cases being what they are today, it is necessary for me to add a disclaimer. Obviously I can't guarantee anyone else's experience with Mike and Texas Electrical will be as good as ours was. But I can suggest that you interview Mike, check his references and decide for yourself when you are considering hiring an electrician.
DALLAS
214 503-8563
1 800 314-7110
Our 43rd Year!
Hi Bill!
If I lived in Texas, I'd hire Mike! I think your idea of keeping the locals posted on good companies is terrific! I just wish you were here!
Hi, Paula --
Thanks for commenting on Mike and his Texas Electrical. I cannot in anyway express how totally surprised we were that we picked an electrician at random, and he turned out to be one of the top 2 I have had do work for us over the past 40 years. (I have to add in memorial that the other was our dear friend, Roy Worthen, who passed away about twenty years ago.)
I wish you could use Mike, too...but you being in Sacramento, I guess will preclude that great experience for BOTH of you. (He'd meet a Cracker Jack Realtor, too.)
Bill....I have a feeling you're a fun guy to work for! I bet you keep them entertained!
Miss Joanie ---
I was thinking about you this morning. I'm so glad to hear from you!
I don't know as I'm fun to work for, but I know enough about construction to admire good work, to recognize bad work and to know what can be done and what can't be done. Those guys do like working for me because I'm simpatico with their trade, pay on time, and jump with joy when they do great work. And I tell everyone I know.
Hope all is well way up there in New Hampshire!
Your friend,
Bill