Some renovations are projects many people dream about for years before they come to fruition. Finding the time to plan, fund and execute any upgrade, whether it's large or small, can be hard. Finding the right contractor to do the work can be harder.

Justin Avishay, co-owner of Avishay Contractors of Kearny, N.J., is not unfamiliar with the trials and tribulations renovations can bring. He also understands that a project of this undertaking is often once-in-a-lifetime, and with a price tag that can be overwhelming, he works to ensure homeowners get exactly what they're looking for.

"People save up for years to do this type of project once," he says. "If you're hiring someone to do your dream kitchen, and you're going to spend $60,000 to $100,000, you want it to be done right, and we try to do it right."

Avishay Contractors specializes in interior and exterior renovations including kitchens, bathrooms, basements, sidewalks, driveways, demolition and outdoor living spaces. Avishay got his start fixing cars for his family's limousine business, while also watching his dad and uncle flip houses. Eventually he opened his own mechanic shop, but found himself building outdoor kitchens during the summer, where he discovered his passion had moved beyond building custom cars and into building custom homes.

"I love seeing the 'wow' factor from my clients," he says. "I love it when they say, 'Oh my gosh, how did you do it?—I didn't think it could be done.'"

Avishay says he likens a renovation to a puzzle that needs to be put together, and he enjoys figuring out where all the pieces will fit just right.

"There's nothing we can't do when we put our minds to it," he says. "We aim to please."

While Avishay works on the building aspect of the business, his wife, Sylwia Avishay, works on the designs.

As co-owners, Avishay says they complement each other, but Sylwia really keeps everything balanced.

"A woman's touch to homes in construction is really a blessing," he says. "She makes us stop and think about what we're doing and makes sure we're planning ahead for what may come."

Part of this planning is making sure clients understand exactly what they're getting when they're setting a budget for any project. Avishay says sometimes clients will set a budget before taking into consideration the extras that will come after a project is complete, and that can be eye-opening.

"We always tell them, if you think your budget is $50,000, you can probably expect to spend $75 to $100,000," he says. "We give them the real expectation of what to expect, which is: You're going to do the renovation, and then want to buy new appliances, or decorations or furniture for the renovation and it's going to add up."

With that being said, once a budget is agreed upon, unless there is a drastic situation that may arise, there is no changing it.

"When we plan for a house and we make a budget, we stick to it," Avishay adds. "Once we give you a price, we lock it in and focus on getting things done in a timely manner."

While budget is important, Avishay says the planning process is just as crucial, especially to Avishay Contractors.

"When we speak with customers after their projects are complete, the feedback we get is typically, 'We chose you because you seemed to care the most,'" he says. "We let the clients tell us what they need, and we don't push anything that they don't need. It's their dream kitchen, not ours, and we just work to give them what they want."

Fully licensed and insured, Avishay Contractors is the one-stop-shop homeowners are looking for when it comes to renovations. They have plumbers and electricians on their team, and do not sub out work to other contractors. With core values of God, family and country, Avishay says everyone on his team is like family, and it's just as important for them to see Avishay Contractors succeed as it is to him.

"We take pride in our work," he concludes. "We're not perfect people, but we strive for perfection."

Avishay Contractors
Kearny, N.J.
(973) 626-8363
AvishayConstruction.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 23, Issue 11 (September 2023).
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