Resource Center

"The mission of J2 Solutions is to provide outstanding professional construction services to the good people of our community. We accomplish this goal by elevating the standards of the construction industry in ways that are beneficial to all parties involved."

Below you will find two documents that are full of valuable information. The first is a guide to choosing a contractor. In it, you will learn how the game is played and what you can do to make sure you choose the right contractor. The second is a questionnaire you can and use with potential contractors. It will serve as a checklist so you get the information you need to make a good decision.

Good luck in your search!

• How To Choose the Right Contractor (April 2010)
• Contractor Interview Questionnaire

• Department of Business & Professional Regulation —Official site to check FL contractors
• Better Business Bureau —Additional contractor background
• Contractors From Hell —Contractor horror stories
• National Association of the Remodeling Industry —General how-to-choose contractor

No. J2 Solutions is a full service general contractor that focuses in three divisions; detached garages, residential remodeling and commercial construction. You can find more information about these other divisions by going to www.J2SolutionsInc.com

• Professionalism. All J2 Solutions project managers have experience working with former $1M+ international construction companies. The skills and knowledge learned with these professionals allows us to deliver unmatched professionalism and expertise.

• Sound business practices. It is no surprise that general contractors are the #1 failing industry in the state of Florida (restaurants are #2). The reason; most general contractors are former tradesmen with little or no business management experience. Our company is built upon time-tested business procedures in accounting, cash-management and operations.

• We are debt-free. History tells us the #1 reason why contractors fail is because of 'lack of cash'. By not having to answer to the bank making expensive payments month after month, our company overhead is drastically reduced. This results in greater stability for our team members, reduced overhead, better pricing for our clients, faster payment to our subcontractors and enhanced protection against economic downturns.

• We utilize time-resource management techniques. Over the years we have religiously tracked how much of our time needs to be devoted to each type of project (estimators, project managers, superintendents, etc). As new jobs come into our company pipeline, we can accurately predict when we are at capacity. New work, if it comes at that point, is asked to wait. By purposely not taking on too much work at any given time, our team can guarantee our schedules, budgets and customer services that we are known for.

• We specialize. In construction there is no such thing as a 'jack of all trades'. We focus on detached garages, residential remodeling and commercial interiors. That’s it. By limiting our work to these three areas, we can constantly review and analyze our performances and bring new improvements to bear on upcoming projects. With every completed job, we become more efficient, knowledgeable and cost effective.

Rather than employing a large staff of skilled construction workers as our employees, we choose to hire independent subcontractors as needed. We have found this method to be beneficial for the following reasons:

• Reduced costs: Because we do not have to keep a large staff on the payroll, our overhead costs are drastically reduced. Furthermore we can competitively bid subcontractors as we need them. This results in lower costs to our clients.
• Increased quality: Rather than having a 'jack-of-all-trades', we hire the experts who specialize in their particular area of work. This experience and focus produces higher quality, faster schedules and fewer mistakes.
• Efficiency: We do not have to waste our time trying to keep idle employees busy. We devote this 'saved time' to our clients' jobs to help them run smoother and faster.

It takes approximately 5 months from the time we sign the paperwork to the time we hand over the keys at completion. Roughly half of that time is devoted to permitting (blueprints, surveys, architects, building departments, etc) and the other half for actual construction. We do guarantee in writing that your garage will be done within 90 days of receiving your permit.

Eventually, yes. The assessed value of you property is determined by two factors: First the value of your land; and second, the value of the structure(s) on your land. Because we are increasing the total value of the 'structures' on your property, your total appraised value will go up. Call your local property appraiser to get specific information for your particular area.

We work in the following Florida counties: Manatee, Sarasota, Desoto, Charlotte. Please contact us if you have a specific inquiry outside these areas.

Yes. We can achieve any look you want for the outside of your garage. We can keep it plain and simple, or make it look identical to your home. You decide.

Yes, however certain rules apply. Please contact us for details.

Yes it is possible to add water and a bathroom to your detached garage. Certain restrictions do apply. Please contact us for details.

As a general rule of thumb, you must maintain both a 10' rear and 10' side setback from your property lines. Furthermore, the maximum allowable lot coverage (structures under roof) must not exceed 35%. However, it is important to know that every area is different. You can take our free Garage Feasibility Test from our Interactive Tools & Calculators section to find out more. Or you can contact us and we will gladly tell you if you qualify to build.

We have a list of qualified lenders who can help you get financing for your detached garage in as little as 10 minutes. Their rates are extremely competitive and easy to qualify for. Try using our Payment Calculator from our Interactive Tools & Calculators section to see what your estimated monthly payment would be.

No. One of the best features of your new garage is that it is built to the most current and latest hurricane building codes available. If we were to compromise its structural integrity by installing an older non-wind rated component, the entire structure would be jeopardized should a hurricane hit. Furthermore, during the construction process inspectors must see the engineering specifications and installation instructions for each type of door and window installed. New windows and doors come with this literature, whereas older existing ones do not.

We have built hundreds of garages to date and no two have ever been alike. Although we have tried to come up with a 'cost-per-foot' pricing, there are simply too many variables that affect cost.

Things like the amount of trees to be removed, the quantity of fill to be imported, the amount of concrete drives & walks, electrical specifications, aesthetic features, doors & windows (quantity & sizes) and of course the overall size of the garage itself all contribute to the total cost.

A good analogy of asking how much a detached garage costs per square foot is like asking how much a car costs per pound.

If another contractor does give you cost-per-foot without doing a detailed estimate, he is lying. Rarely, if ever, will they get it correct. And considering how much you are willing to invest, wouldn’t you rather have a contractor spend some time with you to discuss your options and give you and exact quote?

The safe bet is to get an exact quote based specifically on what you want. The first step in getting a quote from J2 Solutions is to contact us.