Mike Sons doesn’t believe in sitting on his hands — or sitting still for that matter — as the general contractor already owns three working businesses and is adding a fourth as a handyman with the experience behind him of all the trades.
Got a ceiling fan that wobbles?
A tile job that got bigger as you went along?
Or maybe you have some other “honey do” projects that never seemed to get finished (or started) by your own honey and you just want to get it done now.
Sons may be the handy man you’re looking for.
So why does a general contractor who also owns a steam cleaning company, fencing company and a powerwashing company put even more on his plate?
Plain and simple: the economy.
“The economy is so bad no one is going to call a contractor for the little stuff around the house,” Sons said. “I figured, maybe I could do the little stuff to help people out.”
Sons moved to Oakdale 15 years ago from Tracy and the single father has since been busy with his other ventures but the economy has certainly taken its toll. He’s seen friends lose houses and livelihoods and he wasn’t immune to the slow down in work either but he’s a go-getter and refused to give in.
“I laugh when people say there isn’t any work out there. You have to make work. Create it. And you have to want to work,” Sons said. “In 2004-2006 work came to us. We didn’t have to go looking for it but now you have to be creative and want it. You can’t sit on the couch and hope it happens.”
To that end, when Sons realized the construction market had wheezed to a stop, he realized more people were going to need and want home improvement so he decided to put his considerable experience in construction (20 years) to use in a different way by going the handyman route.
He charges by the hour when it’s a handyman job but for larger jobs will bid for the project. And if there’s a project he doesn’t feel qualified enough to tackle, he has contacts in every trade and he’s happy to offer referrals. He also has references available for anyone who wants to check him out first.
Sons recognizes that times are tough, he’s not looking to gouge anyone but he wants to warn people about the pitfalls of being a penny-wise and a pound foolish.
“Homeowners are looking for a deal but I’ve seen plenty of jobs that were done cheap that ultimately had to be redone and ended up costing the homeowner more because they paid twice for the same job. Everybody knows good work isn’t cheap and cheap work isn’t good,” Sons said. “But I’m willing to work with a client. If money is an issue, we can look at a job in steps. Start small and work yourself up to a bigger project.”
Sons can do any job within the home, big to small, from installing a flat-screen television, installing a new sink, hot water heaters, build closets, to tiling the floor. And he’s just as handy with the outside, he said.
“I can clear, install and repair gutters, do the fencing (he’s owned Custom Vinyl Fence for 10 years) and even yard clean up,” Sons said. “I can do just about anything. I’m willing to take on the littlest jobs to building a home.”
He said he’s seen plenty of Do-It-Yourself projects that have gone awry.
“I repaired a wall once where the ceiling fan had come loose and one of the blades went straight through the wall,” he said. “People think hanging a ceiling fan is as simple as just attaching it to the ceiling. Drywall can’t support a ceiling fan. It’s got moving parts; it has to be anchored up in the ceiling. Most people don’t think of that.”
For more information, call Mike Sons at 848-2035.
