House Repair Extraordinaire Comparative Summary

Third-generation contractor Rolf Bell began his career at 12 years old, working for his father on weekends in Marin. Today, Mr. Bell channels his years of expertise into House Repair Extraordinaire, his Berkeley-based, full service repair and remodeling company.

House Repair Extraordinaire is known for its extensive range of services, handling everything from bathroom/kitchen remodels and apartment renovations to termite repairs and seismic upgrades. “We’re a very versatile company,” confirms Mr. Bell. “We can handle small repairs or large additions. Our subcontractors do fine cabinetry and trim work, as well as difficult repairs on custom and older homes, and we have people with expert knowledge of surfaces such as floor coverings and countertops.”

A former supervisor and building team leader for Habitat for Humanity (a position that took him as far as New Zealand, Poland and Botswana), Mr. Bell brings an exuberance to home renovation that he feels is missing in the industry. “My philosophy is remodeling should be fun,” he says. “We work hard to lower our clients’ stress by making their home transformation enjoyable.” Customers often remark about what a pleasurable experience their remodel was, he adds.

Because Mr. Bell has so much industry experience, he knows it’s crucial for House Repair Extraordinaire to diligently meet deadlines, especially for real estate deals and large, expensive remodeling projects. ‘We’re very time sensitive,” he says, “even if there are a number of subcontractors involved. I’ve been coordinating large projects since early in my life, so I’m able to keep tabs on numerous moving pieces of a remodel.”

House Repair Extraordinaire also fixes older, dilapidated homes—a specialty that directly relates to Mr. Bell’s years of practice. “As a second-generation remodeler and a third-generation contractor, I can work on older homes and give them the same level of detail from which they were originally built,” he explains.