Bofysil said there are a myriad of classic houses in mid-Michigan worth fixing up. The builders association has 51 dues-paying members in its Remodelors Council, making it one of the nation's largest local councils, said Dean Innerarity of the National Association of Home Builders' Remodelors Council. The local council conducts background and reference checks, assuring the builder has a license and is in good standing with the state. Bofysil warned against unqualified and unscrupulous builders. And there are a lot of people out there who aren't.
Renovations are more time-intensive and more expensive than new home construction, contractors say.
Builders often work with the customer hanging over their shoulders. Sometimes they redo jobs botched by the homeowners. It's a lot more difficult because everything you do is in reference to something existing - something that might not be straight to begin with, something that might have shifted over time. Byrd has kept busy doing strictly renovations since he started Qx2 in 1994. For Reichel, the Benton Township resident, buying a new home wasn't an option.