WHY JFM

What you get when you choose JFM

A price on paper only tells you so much. What matters is what is included, who turns up, how you are kept in the loop and what happens if something is not right. This is how we do it, and the questions worth asking before anyone starts on your home.

Call Michael on 0483 959 285 See the questions

4.7★Google, 27 reviews

1950sCarpentry in the family since

80–90%Of our clients come back

1 teamCarpentry, trades and finishing

WHERE IT STARTED

The day our grandad rebuilt a house

Bob Moodie, Michael's grandad, finished his carpentry apprenticeship and 2 weeks later started his own building company, M&D Homes, back in the 1950s.

One job never left the family. A surveyor pegged a house in the wrong spot, and it went up almost to lockup over the neighbour's boundary. It was not Bob's mistake, and he did not argue about whose it was. He got every one of his trades onto the site, and they took the house down and rebuilt it in a day.

That is the standard we still work to: own your work, and make it right. Michael and his dad Karl started JF Maintenance in Geelong in 2012, and we put our name on every job.

Why we do the whole job

Our customers kept telling us the same thing. A door would get replaced, then the painter would not turn up for a month or two, and the new door sat there going downhill. So we learned to do both, and to run the other trades. Today we do the carpentry ourselves and coordinate the plasterer, painter, electrician and plumber, so you deal with one team and the job leaves finished.

Three generations of the Jochum family — Three generations. One standard.

HOW WE KEEP YOU IN THE LOOP

You will always know what is happening

This is how every job runs with us, from the first call to the last walk-through.

We ring you first

Michael talks the job through with you on the phone and gives you a straight answer and a ballpark, before anyone visits.

Your quote in writing

We measure on site, and your written quote is with you within 3 days, with what is and is not included spelt out.

A walk-through before we start

The carpenters doing your job walk it with you first, so we all agree on what is being done.

A text the day before

We text you the day before we arrive, so you know when to expect us.

Photos as it goes

Progress photos while the work is under way, so you can see it coming together.

Nothing extra without your yes

If something turns up that needs more work, you get the price and give us a written yes before we do it.

Shown working, walked through

Anything that moves, doors, locks, sliders and windows, is shown working before we sign off. Then the carpenters walk the finished job with you.

If it is not right, we come back

We come back and put it right. No excuses, no runaround.

BEFORE ANYONE STARTS

Questions worth asking before you choose

Whoever does your job, these deserve a straight answer. Here are ours.

Who is actually doing the work?

Our own team. Every person on site is a qualified carpenter (Cert III) or an apprentice. If the job needs another trade, we bring them in and run them, so you still have one team and one point of contact.

Is the painting and finishing included, or is that someone else later?

It can be, and your quote will say either way. We finish what we build and repair, and coordinate the painter, plasterer, electrician or plumber if the job needs one, so you are not left waiting on a second contractor. If you would rather do the painting yourself, that is fine too.

What does the price include?

Everything is spelt out in your written quote before we start, so you know exactly what is included and what is not. For most jobs that is the preparation, the work, the finishing, the site left tidy, and coming back if anything needs adjusting. If a quote is lower, it is worth checking which of those it leaves out.

Can the price change once you start?

Not without your say-so. If we find something that needs extra work, you get the price and give us a written yes before we do it.

How will I know what is happening?

A phone call first, a written quote within 3 days of the site visit, a walk-through before we start, a text the day before we arrive, photos as it goes, and a walk-through at the end.

What insurance and checks do you have?

$20M public liability insurance (certificate on request), workers compensation, police checks and Working With Children Checks. ABN verified, and members of HIA and Master Builders Victoria.

What happens if something is not right after you leave?

We come back and make it right. Domestic building work in Victoria also carries statutory warranties, which can apply for up to 10 years. Read our promise.

Will you still be around in 5 years?

We have been a carpentry family since the 1950s and in Geelong since 2012. Around 80 to 90% of our clients come back, and we have worked with Programmed for 12 years and Barwon Water and Barwon Health for 10.

IN OUR CLIENTS' WORDS

What people notice is the communication

Prompt, great communication and a terrific job. Have used JF Maintenance for lots of work over the years and would recommend.

David Meade, windows and maintenance (Google)

They repaired and rebuilt all the pieces within 3 weeks to a high class. Communication as well was never an issue and Michael always kept us in the loop.

Tim, structural repair

Michael did a fantastic job on my bathroom. He ran the project end to end, had very little supervision and sent me regular picture updates of the progress.

David, Newcomb, bathroom renovation (ServiceSeeking)