Revive Kitchen & Bathroom

Jake is an all-star and I should have written this review the minute he finished the job.
On the plus side, my inexcusable delay gives me a chance to say that we are as happy with his work as we were when it was first finished. And we are planning to contact him about a couple of projects in 2015.
Some important things to know about Jake:
-- He is an extremely nice guy.
-- He uses terrific subcontractors for his tile and countertop work, and the installation of shower enclosures.  (I know I answered 'yes' to question at the top about him performing all services for the form does not offer a half-and-half option). But the subcontractors  work with Jake so closely and so well that no seams show.
-- I am sure that you could go to Jake with all kind of glitzy pictures and ideas from sites like Houzz and he would do a first-rate job. But where he really shines is working with someone like me, who had never taken on a project like this before and was less interested in something trendy than in something that would stand the test of time in design and workmanship.The first question out of his mouth was not about how much I wanted to spend. (This was in sharp contrast to another company I called where the secretary/phone answerer immediately asked for a spending estimate and then scoffed when she heard the number). He helped develop a budget for the work, pointing out places where we could save money and where we could splurge.
I was in a state of high anxiety about picking out materials -- particularly tiles. When I had made my choices, I met with Jake at a store. He laid out tiles on the floor, suggested a couple of tweaks and I almost collapsed with relief. The layout looked gorgeous. I knew I was in great hands.
The project was soon off and running, and we were happy with every bit of it: the communication about what work would be done when and why, the care taken with our property, the quality of the work,  the billing process.
I can't recommend him highly enough.

It was worthwhile to get some ideas if we ever decide to go ahead with a re-do.

He was efficient and courteous. I would definitely use him again! Excellent service.

Yeah, I did use Jake of All Trades INC., he was good. He was fine. He installed the hood with no problem. It was not a big project, that's what there was. He did what he said he would do and for the price he said he would do it, that was there, not like he would do bigger jobs better, he did what he said and it seems like it worked. He sent one of his under lease and so I never say Jake. The employee did the job that he was supposed to do it took an hour so it wasn't like a long relationship. The price was reasonable so I paid it.

Jake was responsive and clear in the services he would provide.  His subs (tile installer and drywall finisher) were great.  It was so easy to work with Jake - he actually answers his phone and texts!  The work quality was solid and we are very happy with the bathroom.  We would love to work with Jake again (that master bath is next in line!)

It went great!   Jake is a fantastic person to work with.  He's reliable, easy-going, and communicates very well.  We were about 1500 miles away while he was working, and he kept us in the loop throughout the process.  
The workmanship is excellent, his prices were reasonable, and we couldn't be happier with the results  We would use him again in a heartbeat.

Went as good as can be expected. Jake is very professional, responsive and easy to work with. Everything turned out fantastic and any minor issues we had throughout the process he corrected with no hassles. We will absolutely use him again.

It went really well. Jake made the project easy. We picked out most of the major supplies (the countertop, sinks, toilets, tiles, etc) and he brought the rest of the supplies for installing (i.e., grout or plumbing tubes, etc). He and his team were punctual, courteous, and worked very efficiently. They were able to complete the work within a week.  I would definitely use Jake again and I would highly recommend him.

So far so good.

It went extremely well. Jake provided us with detailed costs and options as well as photos of similar projects he had completed.
This project was not at our primary residence and although we were not present, Jake kept us well informed by sending photos documenting project progress.
He and his workers completed the project on time with no surprises.
Given the opportunity, we would use Jake of All Trades for other projects.

Jake was great. Fast dependabe and on time. He did all the work in three days when others wanted seven days. He was able to find a flush stainless steel sink that would fit in my counter. It was a tight fit but he found one that is great.Can't say enough about the work he did. Always in contact and kept me informed of any changes. He even fixed a small tear in the floor within hours. No problem. He wasn't the lowest qluote but close. I felt reasured of his work and the fact that he is local. He was always saying :"no problem."

You should definitely use them. He's great. Jake is a professional that offers great pricing and is very responsive. He'll walk you through everything.

The person that came to our house was honest and he was thinking of the price and the value of the things that he was putting in. Their price was reasonable. We will use them again in the future.

He was very personable and very nice. He is easy to deal with. He called us and was very clear about when he would be here and what would be done.

Contacted Jake via phone, called back same day discussed options on replacement of bathroom tub. Jake came out provided an estimate; we signed a contract and began work the following week. Over all I was very pleased with the job. After ripping out the existing tub Jake had to perform some touch up of drywall and Paint. I was very pleased with the repair of the drywall. After the work was finished I noticed the quarter round was short (re-used existing pieces), the silicon bead against the tub had shrunk and there was a spot on the wall missing paint. Both Jake and his helper were very respectful and knowledgeable.  Definitely knew what he was doing. Over all I would recommend using him.

*Update** 3/28/2013 After reviewing my comments on Angie?s list Jake call me immediately and wanted to fix the issue. Came out and replaced the quarter round, touched up the paint, and fixed the silicon bead against the tub. I am extremely pleased with the results and his eagerness to please the customer.

I first called Jake and we discussed our need for a new shower.  Jake took the time to look at pictures I emailed and Jake emailed us back some options for the new shower.  We then spoke on the phone and he was able to discuss in detail the options we had available to us and how he would do each option.  We then came to an agreement on what we thought was the best option and he visited our house to do some measurements and meet us and was able to give us a quote on the spot. 
Once we agreed on the plan, Jake provided us with an official contract detailing the payment schedule and the work that was to be done.  At that time he also gave us an estimate of the time it would take for each part of the project.  All the work he did was according to schedule, was professional, and was on time.  He was a great communicator throughout the process and really kept us up-to-date on what was going on.  The shower looks great and I would definitely use Jake Of All Trades again.  I would also recommend Jake Of All Trades to my friends and neighbors.
As a side note, I asked Jake if he had time to fix a few things around my house (not related to the shower) and he fixed them and charged me an extremely reasonable price.  It was really nice of him to take the time to do that for us and I appreciated it.

Jake had previously remodeled our kitchen and we were so impressed with the results we ask him to remodel our bathroom without seeking alternative bids.
Jake is a professional who is always on time and gets the job done in the time frame that he has committed. Jake has talented pool of subcontractors that he employed to the job with excellent results.
We will ask Jake to remodel our other bathroom in a couple years and look forward to working with him and his associates again. 
Sincerely, Tony

Arrived on time, did excellent job. No problems at all.

Without problems, prompt, professional, and expert at tiling.

I purchased a Big Deal for design consultation for a kitchen and bathroom remodel.  Jake was prompt, courteous and seemed to know what he was doing.  He listened to what I wanted, offered suggestions, and later sent an email with estimates for the work.  I did not use him because the tenant is still in the property, but I might use him once the tenant vacates.

BOTTOM LINE: JAKE OF ALL TRADES, A SUPERB CONTRACTOR
Throughout the project and throughout our many interactions, Jake Ostler
("Jake of All Trades") exemplified and combined old-fashioned values
with up-to-date expertise. He is the kind of knowledgeable,
professional, fair, steady, nice, experienced, and courteous contractor
we all wish we had known in the old days -- but he has an Iphone, too.
INTRODUCTION
We were moving back to our home after having rented it out for several years, and wished to renovate the kitchen, and perhaps (budget allowing) to do some small general renovations.
DEVELOPING THE PROJECT AND CONTACTING CONTRACTORS
Ours was a difficult project in two ways. First, we had an almost impossibly small budget in today's terms. Second, the entire project had to be conducted long distance via emails, pictures, and telephone calls (though we also had incredible local assistance from our wonderful property managers).
About the only things we had going for us were four facts. (1) We had a very specific, fairly-detailed, and economically realistic, if small-budget, kitchen renovation plan that I could write down and email to contractors. (2) Thanks to my wife's awesomeness, I could assure contractors that we would be able to stick to the plan. (3) The house would be unoccupied, which would make construction much easier. (4) The project could be scheduled several months in advance and did not have to be a rush job.
Most of the contractors that I emailed courteously informed me that they only undertook more extensive projects with considerably bigger budgets. Jake was one of the few who even considered our project.
JAKE'S COMMUNICATION SKILLS: AWESOME
The long distance necessitated the kind of detailed written communications, with several iterations, that are normally only seen with much bigger construction projects. That level of written detail is necessary in big projects (and in our long distance one) in order to ensure that everyone understands the job and its costs in detail.
Jake was more than up to the task. He communicated very well, listened and read carefully, wrote back clearly, courteously, and to-the-point, and continually tried to find solutions that were within budget and that, if possible, would surprise us 'up'. He also made sure to communicate any potential difficulties that might arise well in advance. He also used his expertise and his understanding of our needs to propose alternative solutions that were far better, and yet would either be within our very tight budget, or slightly bend but not break it.
For my part, I strove to be as clear and concise as possible, and above all, to be respectful of his time.
The upshot was that we both came to understood the project in good detail and felt good about it. The relative ease with which we communicated also built up some mutual trust and goodwill, which definitely also helps.
The advance work proved well worth it. Jake was able to plan out the construction within a relatively hassle-free and supportive environment, and during construction, the further communication that is always needed was easy, clear, relaxed, and right to the point.
HOW DID IT GO? WONDERFULLY!
Even a small-budget kitchen project has several stages. As each stage was completed, we received pictures, both from Jake and from our property managers, who were good enough to personally review construction as it proceeded.
At every stage, the work done by Jake and his sub-contractors epitomized 'professional'. As in every project, there were surprises that meant extra challenges for Jake, but he and his fellow workers met those challenges with ease.
It was both amazing and joyful to see the fruits of Jake's good planning and good work becoming steadily visible. At every stage, from demolition to the final polishing of the kitchen faucet, Jake and his co-workers simply made things better, and they made it all work beautifully.
I am are no Pollyanna. When I hired Jake, I had done my due diligence, and we hoped for good work. We got that and more; but we had no right to expect the beauty that he and his sub-contractors and crew gave us, which was beyond what you can pay for.
Jake, sly devil that he is, with his sub-contractors, and all without telling us, had also secretly added little bits and pieces of extra craftsman's pride to the job, for us to notice and enjoy for many years to come. Jake went way, way, out of his way both to stretch our dollars and to give us a beautiful result. He and his sub-contractors put a level of extra caring into the project that I had no right to expect.
The responsibilities on my end turned out to be to simply thank Jake and his fellow workers for a job beyond well done. It is wonderful when all you have to do is try to make the job as easy and do-able as possible, pay promptly, and be nice right back to your contractor.
CONCLUSION: JAKE OF ALL TRADES IS A KEEPER
Jake proved to be the sort of contractor who is naturally disposed to be respectful of and courteous to his clients; one who, simply as a good human being, is more than willing to apply his expertise to the fullest and to give his best effort at all times; and a guy who likes working hard, so that at the end of the day, no matter what else, he can stand back and see that he has made something good that wasn't there before.
Jake's work and those of his fellow workers was top-notch and consummately professional in every phase of the project. The project was on time and on budget. Jake communicated expertly, he was always respectful and courteous, and he planned the work and the schedule extremely well.
And he's a nice guy on top of it. In my opinion, only about 20 percent of us are as nice as Jake is naturally. He's pretty darn nice.
Jake always acted as if he honestly believes that exercising his natural good nature and his expertise on behalf of people and their projects, finding solid, experienced sub-contractors to work with who also like to work to a high standard, and treating people and their construction projects respectfully, courteously, professionally, and honestly, is the best business model in the long run.
He has this old-fashioned notion that treating clients that way encourages word-of-mouth and repeat business.
Go figure.

Oops - see above for the whole story + work performed.

Jake transformed our 40-year-old kitchen from sad and dingy into a breathtaking place of beauty!  From the beginning when we first met and set up the project and start date until the very last day, Jake was positive, energetic, and conscientious about his work. When we had worries or concerns or just general questions, he was always responsive, via phone or email, and he never met a problem that he couldn't solve. He has a real can-do attitude. He also was mindful of keeping our costs down and initially steered us to places that he knew would be budget friendly.

He did a lot of the work himself, and he took great care with each part of the job. His finishing work was outstanding (My husband was very impressed, and being somewhat of a craftsman himself, this was high praise!) Jake's sub-contractors -- plasterer, painter, granite cutter/installer, and floor installer -- all had the same work ethic that Jake does. They were punctual, courteous, and got the job done quickly and efficiently. They all did outstanding work as well.

When I told friends that the overhaul of the kitchen was scheduled to be done in 2 weeks, not one of them believed it would be done in such a short time. Well, he shocked them all, because he did finish in exactly 2 weeks! Throughout the entire time he was so cheerful and pleasant to be around that it was sad to see him go!

He was very responsible. He did what he said he was going to do. He had a good price. They also had the interest of me in terms of remodeling a bathroom, and he tried to get the best prices on all the supplies and equipment and so forth, so I recommend them highly.  The price included some of the things I brought as well.

From start to finish we found Jake and his crew to be very friendly, courteous, prompt, and always on task.  The demolition was completed quickly and our home was always left clear of debris and tools.

The entire job was completed in less than 3 weeks. We are so thankful for the efficient project planning and work scheduling that allowed for minimum disruption in our home.  The workers were most always there as scheduled and if they was a change in plans Jake would inform us ahead of time.  He would touch base with us daily to see how we were feeling about the progress.

Jake was particularly patient with us when we started second-guessing plans and he would help us think it through by offering suggestions, drawings, and visual staging.  We ultimately trusted his opinion which always seemed to right. 

We would hire Jake of All Trades again without hesitation.  We are hoping to do a bathroom in the near future and he will be the first one we will call.

 We love our beautiful new kitchen!