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(Above) Sweeten homeowners Kavi and David’s townhouse remodel. Photos by Pixy Interiors for Sweeten.

In honor of Women’s History month, Sweeten is spotlighting women general contractors in the general contracting field. These Sweeten contractors are leading the charge and closing the gender gap.

With years of experience under their belts, their firms include experts who handle a myriad of projects—from residential room remodels and full-home renovations to commercial work.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

In the last of a five-part series, we feature women contractors who have the skills and industry knowledge to make your home-sweet-home a reality.

Sweeten General Contractor Emily | Long Island, NY

General contractor Emily and her partner, Cristhian, focus on entire home renovation projects. They oversee a team of expert craftsmen whose objective is to deliver high-quality construction services to Suffolk County residents. They aim to stay on budget and on time for each and every project. “Their biggest strength is the quality of work,” says one client. Excellent communication was also a characteristic that was noted. This client subsequently hired the firm for other projects on his rental homes. See general contractor Emily’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Tara | Houston, TX

Build. Restore. Renovate. Those are the three words that sum up general contractor Tara’s construction firm’s offerings. As one of the women general contractors in Sweeten’s network, Tara and her partner have 50 years of experience combined.

Her projects are primarily in the Houston area working on commercial, residential, and multi-family homes. “We are small enough to listen and big enough to deliver,” says Tara. And her clients agree, often leaving five-star reviews. See general contractor Tara’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Cynthia | Chicago, IL

General contractor Cynthia works on all sorts of projects, ranging in budget levels—from $5,000 to $140,000. She works just as hard on the smaller jobs as she does on the whole-home renovations. She “doesn’t base [my] work on the dollar value,” says Cynthia.

She has also been in the position to fix past renovation mistakes. The client was so pleased with her work that he made her the preferred vendor for Hudson Homes in Bolingbrook, IL. “Everyone raves about her,” her client says. See general contractor Cynthia’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Neda | New York City

General contractor Neda’s company is known throughout the five boroughs for its expertise and refined skills in brownstone and multi-family house design. Principals in her firm are graduates from The Cooper Union, Pratt, and Princeton. The Sweeten contractor has more than 20 years of experience in the construction business. She distinguishes herself from other firms through innovative design and high-quality craftsmanship.

Neda completed a townhouse renovation for Sweeten homeowners Kavi and David. Click to see more of general contractor Neda’s reviews and work here.

Sweeten General Contractor Mordechay | Los Angeles

Specializing in single-home and room renovations, Sweeten contractor Mordechay and her partner, Ashley, provide services in Los Angeles and surrounding areas. They work to ensure each project is high-quality and fits the budget. The partners have been with Sweeten since 2021. Mordechay’s goal is to complete each renovation with professionalism.

Her client Jacquelyn M. said, “Great people. Fair price.”  Read reviews and see more of general contractor Mordechay’s work.

Sweeten General Contractor Doris | New Jersey

With 20 years of experience, Sweeten contractor Doris, and her partner, Jazz, provide organized and quality work. They service Union, NJ, and surrounding areas and specialize in single and multi-family homes. Doris’ top priority is offering clients the highest level of service. She believes good communication achieves the results needed for each unique renovation.

Mujahid, a former client, said, “It went excellent. Very professional and knowledgeable person. Gives us updates very frequently. I would highly recommend them.” Read reviews and see more of general contractor Doris’s work.

Read The Women General Contractors of Sweeten, Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4 of our series!

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Are you an experienced general contractor in one of our locations? 

If you are, apply to be part of Sweeten’s general contractor network. Fill out our application here.

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

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(Above) Photo by Madeline Tolle for Sweeten homeowners Liz and Kevin

UPDATED 3/16/22

In honor of Women’s History month, Sweeten is spotlighting women contractors in the general contracting field. These Sweeten contractors are leading the charge and closing the gender gap.

With years of experience under their belts, their firms include experts who handle a myriad of projects—from residential room remodels and full-home renovations to commercial work. We will also introduce Maisha who is featured as one of our vetted Black-owned contractor firms at Sweeten.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

In the third of a five-part series, we highlight firms led by women contractors who have the skills and industry knowledge to make your home-sweet-home a reality.

Sweeten General Contractor Marisela | Los Angeles

“Our goal is to banish the bad rap contractors get by simply doing what you hire us to do—plus a little more,” says Sweeten general contractor Marisela. Working under this philosophy, Marisela built a successful contracting business for the Los Angeles area. Her husband and business partner, Mario, helps to manage the full suite of renovations that her company handles. They have experience in major buildouts and remodels, including additions. See general contractor Marisela’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Anna | Gaithersburg, MD

General contractor Anna, and her team, work in the Gaithersburg area of Maryland; a popular suburb of Washington, DC. She specializes in general contracting while offering guidance to find reliable architects as well as creative support. The Sweeten contractor’s track record is best summed up by one of her client’s reviews: “[I have worked with Anna] nine different times and I’m also a real estate agent, so I recommend them to my clients. We live in a rowhouse in DC and hired them personally to repair some drainage and flooding work.” See general contractor Anna’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Maisha | New York City

Interior design: AphroChic. Photography by Chinasa Cooper.

The espresso bar shown above is just one example of the top-notch quality you get from Sweeten general contractor Maisha and her team. Located in New York, her company has experience in general contracting, completing residential and commercial projects. Painting is another service offered by Maisha and her team, who have worked on full-gut remodels, kitchens and baths, basement makeovers, and deck additions.

She is also a Black-owned contractor firm in NYC. Featured on the blog: Sweeten homeowner and Netflix actor, Danielle Brooks’ brownstone renovation completed with Maisha. See general contractor Maisha’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Mariya | Philadelphia

Located in Philadelphia, Mariya’s contracting business is known not just in the City of Brotherly Love but also outside the borders. The Sweeten general contractor’s projects span from the Greater Philadelphia area to New Jersey and Delaware as well. Mariya’s company offers construction services plus handyman work, and other home-improvement repairs like siding and roofing. See general contractor Mariya’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Cecille | Los Angeles

Sweeten general contractor Cecille and her team help clients successfully navigate all stages of a construction lifecycle. They consider themselves more than just contractors, acting as problem solvers and creative partners to all clients. “Our team approaches every project with the same care and tenacity as if the investment were our own,” says Cecille. And her clients have taken notice, writing reviews like this one: “She is very conscious of her work, honest, hard-working, one of the best GCs I have ever used. She sticks to the budget and timeline, and is very communicative, which is rare.” Featured on the blog: Sweeten homeowners Kirsty and David’s home renovation completed with Cecille’s expertise. See general contractor Cecille’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Anna | Los Angeles

“I found this team on Sweeten and was initially interested because they were identified as a woman-owned business,” says one client. Another describes her experience with general contractor Anna and her team as “always professional and on time.” A family business, Anna and her company oversee projects ranging from small-scale interior upgrades to additions and new home construction. The Sweeten contractor also focuses on ADUs (accessory dwelling units), which are popular in the Los Angeles area. Her company has grown steadily over the last 15 years, building a clientele that consistently gives their work five stars. 

Featured on the blog: Sweeten homeowners Liz and Kevin’s bathroom renovation scored a 180-degree refresh with Anna’s help. See general contractor Anna’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Sorina | New York

New York-based contractor Sorina and her partner Ion have been with Sweeten since 2017. Their firm provides general contracting, architect referrals, light creative support, and millwork. You’ll find them working in Essex, Hudson, and Union counties in New Jersey, as well as Brooklyn and Queens. Sorina has her bachelor’s in business and grew up around construction. Ion is an architect. Sweeten homeowner Beth D. noted, Their crew “are well-trained craftsmen. They are responsive to fixes. The contractor is technically knowledgeable. Reliable and worked quickly to finish the job.” Check out their work for Taylor’s 320-square-foot apartment renovation, which was featured on Sweeten’s blog. Read reviews and see more of general contractor Sorina’s work.

Sweeten General Contractor Arienne | Washington D.C.

Sweeten general contractor Arienne, and her partner Darrell, provide services in Washington D.C. and surrounding areas. Arienne and Darrell’s expertise includes flooring carpentry, additions, and single-home remodels. They find a way to tackle any renovation, big or small and have completed four Sweeten renovations. Sweeten homeowner Micheal B. notes that they “listened very carefully when he described what he had in mind for the project.” Arienne’s firm provides each homeowner they work with, a beautifully executed job. As a result, they’ve earned an overall 5-star review. Read reviews and see more of general contractor Arienne’s work.

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Read the rest of The Women General Contractors of Sweeten series:

• Women general contractors Part 1
• Women general contractors Part 2
• Women general contractors Part 4
• Women general contractors Part 5

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

The post The Women Contractors of Sweeten, Part 3 appeared first on Sweeten.

(Above) Sweeten project by general contractor Natylee

For Women’s History month, Sweeten is spotlighting women general contractors who are in our network. They are leading the way while closing the gender gap. With solid work portfolios, their firms have completed a wide range of projects—from single-room remodels to full-home renovations and additions. This post, the second in a five-part series, profiles some of the most talented general contractors across our various cities.

Sweeten matches home renovation projects with vetted general contractors, offering guidance, tools, and support—for free.

Sweeten General Contractor Leah | New York City

General contractor Leah has owned and operated her contracting business for almost 15 years, with experience in different points of the process. Her company completes a wide range of construction activities, from pre-development to turnover. Serving both the public and private sector, Leah has worked on projects ranging in scope and skillsets—from a condo fitness center and Victorian home restoration to a modern high-rise apartment. Each of her projects gets assigned a dedicated project manager to ensure it is completed on time and on budget. See Sweeten contractor Leah’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Ishita | Long Island, NY

Ishita’s main focus is customer service. It’s a point of pride not to use “pushy sales tactics or upselling” to retain clients. Instead, she prefers to let the work speak for itself. Ishita’s general contracting firm handles all different types of renovations in Suffolk County, New York, located on Long Island. For example, she has completed single-room makeovers as well as large estate renovations. The general contractor also plans, manages, and builds multi-phase jobs. Above all, Ishita remains focused on the overall experience. “It really is about how our customers feel at the end [that matters].” See Sweeten contractor Ishita’s reviews and work.

Sweeten General Contractor Natylee | New York City

Natylee is a Sweeten general contractor with her partner, Lem, servicing New York City and surrounding areas. Natylee’s firm specializes in residential home remodels and is very detail oriented. Therefore, it ensures every project gets the attention it deserves. Sweeten homeowner Catherine A. said, “I had an excellent experience with this team. They were very patient and thorough, from our first meeting and the extremely detailed estimate to the design and build process.” The contractor has completed 32 Sweeten renovations. Jen’s kitchen makeover (top) and Lauren’s Brooklyn kitchen renovation (bottom) have both been featured on Sweeten’s blog. See more of Sweeten contractor Natylee’s work.

Sweeten General Contractor Nancy | Fairfield County, CT

Sweeten contractor, Nancy, and her partner, John, have over 24 years of experience working in the Fairfield County, Connecticut area. They aim to provide the homeowner the best experience and with quality materials. Similarly, offering reliable service and building relationships are important to them. The list of services includes single home renovations, general carpentry, and flooring. Nancy’s firm has completed four Sweeten renovations, including Samantha and Justin’s garage remodel (above), which was featured on Sweeten’s blog. Read reviews and see more of Sweeten contractor Nancy’s work.

Sweeten General Contractor Jessica | Los Angeles, CA

Running a family-owned business, Jessica, and her partner, Michael, cite their amazing designs and workmanship as ways that make them stand out. Serving Los Angeles, CA, they specialize in all aspects of residential remodeling. Jessica promises to provide each homeowner with quality materials, construction, and design services. The partners guarantee 100% satisfaction. As a result, the firm has earned an overall 5-star review from past clients. Jessica joined Sweeten in 2020 and has completed four Sweeten projects. Read reviews and see more of Sweeten contractor Jessica’s work.

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Read The Women General Contractors of Sweeten, Part 1, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5. 

Sweeten handpicks the best general contractors to match each project’s location, budget, and scope, helping until project completion. Follow the blog, Sweeten Stories, for renovation ideas and inspiration and when you’re ready to renovate, start your renovation on Sweeten.

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The post The Women Contractors at Sweeten, Part 1 appeared first on Sweeten.

Sweeten wants general contractors who can do all of the construction work for every type of renovation project, right? Actually, wrong! While prior construction experience is great, many factors go into the process of hiring general contractors and adding them to the platform. Want to know what goes into vetting general contractors at Sweeten? Here, we outline the key factors Sweeten considers when vetting general contractors and approving them. (Plus, there’s a breakdown highlighting the difference between a general contractor and subcontractor!)

What is a general contractor? 

• A general contractor finds and manages experts to complete a construction project. Sometimes, the contractor themself may have background experience in construction. Or, the contractor may actually do some specialized work, like framing a room or doing tile work.
• The kind of general contractor you’ll need depends on the type of project you’re doing! If you’re starting a ground-up project for a brand-new office building, you’ll need a contractor with experience in commercial construction or office buildings. If you were starting a luxury home bathroom project, you’d want a contractor who specializes in luxury bathrooms. (Luckily, Sweeten does this homework for you by expertly matching individual projects with the right type of contractor!)

General contractor vs. subcontractor

• General contractors organize experts from other trades and then bring them together to complete a project. For example, for a bathroom remodel, a general contractor would find experts in electrical, plumbing, and potentially painting work for the job.
• Subcontractors are the experts specifically trained in a trade. In the bathroom remodel example, subcontractors would do the actual electrical, plumbing, or painting work. MEPs (Mechanical, electrical and plumbing) are the most frequently subcontracted trades, mainly because these trades are highly skilled and require special licenses or registrations. General Contractors may choose to subcontract out various trades depending on the scope of the project.

How does Sweeten choose general contractors? 

Sweeten considers several factors when reviewing contractors: 

• That they have proof of insurance and licenses in Sweeten’s service areas
• Photos of previous work
• References from previous projects
• The contractor’s online presence, from professional websites to reviews or social media business accounts 
• Communication style 
• Length of time in business (a minimum of 6 months)

Do Sweeten general contractors have insurance?

• Yes. All Sweeten general contractors are required to carry insurance.
• If a contractor is in a state that doesn’t require them to carry insurance, (Texas, for example,) Sweeten still requires that they get a certificate of insurance.
• Although Sweeten offers up to $50,000 in financial protection, that coverage is in addition to the separate insurance policy required of all Sweeten contractors. 
• The three most common types of insurance carried by contractors are general liability, workman’s compensation, and auto liability insurance.
• Workman’s compensation is useful for projects that require a crew to be on site.
• Auto liability insurance is useful for when a general contractor is parking on your property.

Do Sweeten general contractors have licenses?

• Yes. All Sweeten general contractors carry licenses when available for residential renovation projects where they work. 
• Did you know that different states have different licensing requirements? It’s true! Fortunately, Sweeten checks licenses at both the state and/or county level. 
• Additionally, Sweeten actively monitors the expiration dates of general contractor licenses. In fact, any general contractor with an expired license is not matched to new projects. This does two things:
  • Ensures Sweeten contractors are staying up-to-date with their licenses
  • Prevents Sweeten contractors from working on projects until their licenses are up-to-date

What kinds of contractors work with Sweeten? 

• Actually, Sweeten works with general contractor teams of all sizes! From single-person firms who subcontract out labor to contractors with dozens of employees on their payroll. 
• Regional trends also affect the size of firms. Some markets, like Los Angeles, tend to offer more one-stop-shop firms. This is compared to cities like Atlanta and Chicago, who have a wealth of independently-owned “mom-and-pop” firms

Does it cost money to join Sweeten’s network?

• It is completely free for all general contractors to join the Sweeten platform.
• Contractors do not pay for access to leads on Sweeten.
• General contractors pay a fee, from 3% to 6%, of any awarded contracts they win on Sweeten.
• In this model, contractors only pay when they win projects on Sweeten’s platform.

Now you have all the information that goes into vetting general contractors at Sweeten! Interested in working with a Sweeten general contractor? Post a project today to receive your contractor matches. If you’re a general contractor interested in joining our platform for free, you can apply today.

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More General Contractor News

A virtual site visit—meeting a potential client over video—can help you keep the project moving safely during COVID-19. 

Mastering the renovation sales process: how to create trust with a client and deal with unresponsiveness.

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