Watch out for “red flags.” Say no to cash-only deals, high-pressure sales tactics, high upfront payments, handshake deals without a contract, and on-site inspections. Not all “contractors” are con artists, but enough are that you should be cautious any time a home contractor contacts you first…especially after a natural disaster.

Ask for references and check them out. Bad contractors will be reluctant to share this information, and scammers won’t wait for you to do your homework. If you can, get references from past customers, both older references to check on the quality of the work and newer references to ensure current employees are up to the task. Check them out at BBB.org to see what other customers have experienced. And always get a written contract with the price, materials, and timeline. The more detail, the better.

Know the law. Work with local businesses that have proper identification, licensing, and insurance. Confirm that your vendor will get related permits, and make sure you know who is responsible for what according to your local laws and that your vendor is ready to comply.

Reference: BBB Scam Alert: Home improvement scammers take money, don’t complete work, by: BBB.org, March 30, 2022

D&S Elite Construction, Inc. has been in business for over 15 years. We are licensed, bonded and certified. D&S Elite Construction, Inc. is one of the top construction companies in the area. D&S delivers quality workmanship, exceptional service and elite results. D&S Elite Construction, Inc. uses BuilderTrend construction software for all there construction projects. BuilderTrend is an online home builders’ software that tracks your projects status, review your estimate, view project timeline, and communicate with your project manager and more. See what our customers are saying on our Testimonials page.

After a year off due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance hosted more than 150 people Wednesday evening, October 13th for the third annual Building Berks Awards &  Trade Expo at the DoubleTree by Hilton Reading.

Event attendees were able to watch videos of winning projects while enjoying appetizers and a signature cocktail made with ingredients from one of the evening’s winners, Reading Distilling Guild.

D&S Elite Construction, Inc. won for our work with Christ Episcopal Church and was awarded in the Commercial Renovation/Restoration category, in collaboration with Muhlenberg Greene Architects.

This year 25 amazing projects were nominated across 10 categories. The 25 nominated projects represented over $123 million in total investment, nearly 2,000 construction jobs, over 700 jobs created and/or retained and over 2.2 million total square-footage developed, renovated, or newly constructed. The full story can be found in our organization’s (GRCC) quarterly magazine, Commerce Quarterly.

The event and awards were developed in 2018 as an opportunity to spotlight and celebrate innovation and positive economic growth and development through construction projects in Greater Reading, Pennsylvania. Applicants submitting nominations for projects were asked to include all parties involved — from the banking institution to the contractor to the municipality — to honor everyone involved in making projects in our community come to fruition!

The nominees of the 2021 Building Berks Awards are part of a larger story we have been telling about Greater Reading for some time — our region is growing and is primed for even more development. The 2021 nominated projects are more than just the walls and square footage, they represent opportunity, growth, jobs and possibilities for our region. All nominated projects must have been completed between July 2019 and July 2021.

We want to thank everyone that voted for us! We are looking forward to celebrating again in 2023.

‘Creating trust and integrity with clients’

Protecting your business or home from water and fire damage should be a top priority in assuring safety to employees and assets.

Adopting a good coverage policy and ensuring safety equipment is up-to-date can go a long way should a disaster arise.

Here to answer this week’s “Behind the List” questions and offer insight on fire and water restorations is Joseph Delibertis, owner of D&S Elite Construction, Inc. in Douglassville, PA.

Lehigh Valley Business: How long has D&S Elite Construction, Inc. been operating in the region and what are its primary services?
Joseph Delibertis: It has been a pleasure to run a full-service construction company for almost an entire decade. I founded D&S Elite Construction Inc. in Douglassville in 2008. We have been a leading local construction company for nine years, specializing in commercial, residential and disaster restoration construction.

We work with both home and business owners in Berks County, the Lehigh Valley and the surrounding area to create beautiful, functional spaces to serve their individual needs. In addition to new construction, we can provide renovation services and can enhance any room or structure with interior and/or exterior upgrades.

Our … contractors ensure safety, quality and satisfaction on every job. Our No. 1 focus has and will always be our customers. … As the general contractor, we first create the highest level of trust and integrity with our clients. We value our role in the success of your project. At D&S, we strive to not just to meet your expectations, but to exceed them.

LVB: What have been some of the biggest challenges and opportunities that D&S Elite Construction Inc. has encountered throughout its years in business?
Delibertis: We’ve had many opportunities to work on commercial renovation projects, but with these specific renovations come several challenges to meet our customers’ expectations.

D&S Elite Construction, Inc. offers a variety of commercial construction services ranging from new office construction to office remodeling and upgrading. Even in situations where business must continue as usual amidst commercial construction, we take great pride and care in our ability to stay as much out of the way as possible.
While renovating popular commercial buildings, we have to manage the work around the schedules of both the customers and employees. During a recent renovation at a Redner’s Warehouse Market, we had to perform work while the supermarket was open.

During this particular project, it was crucial to maintain a safe and clean environment while shoppers and employees proceeded to use the store. We had to make sure that there were no opportunities for hazardous accidents.

It was also crucial to ensure that dust and particles from our renovations were not contaminating the products. Another challenge that I faced while operating D&S Elite Construction, Inc. was in 2008 during the heart of the economic recession. It was a challenge to build our business during a time when the influx of work was low and the majority of business was dependent upon unpredictable disaster restoration.

However, I was able to pull through and persevere during this economically challenging period. Now we are in position to be even more successful with a higher demand for business than ever before.

LVB: What have been some of the most notable projects that D&S Elite Construction, Inc. has completed on a local level? What projects does it currently have underway or have in the pipeline?
Delibertis: One of our recent projects, the Amity Professional Building, included a 9,000-square-foot new medical health care facility featuring medical and dental offices. This project married design with functionality, providing a beautiful comfortable space for patients to meet with their doctors. D&S Elite Construction, Inc. offers new commercial construction services ranging from small office buildings to large office buildings …

A significant portion of our business is working with disaster restoration. D&S Elite Construction, Inc. has 24/7 emergency service availability. We often work in situations that are difficult due to the extent of building damage and emotional situation of our customers.

We recently reconstructed a home that was entirely destroyed by a fire. This type of restoration has multiple challenges. First, we had to tear down an existing structure in a way that was safe for both our workers and the community. The next step was to rebuild the structure in a way that gives our customers back a sense of home and security.

​We are very sensitive to our customer’s feelings and help them during this emotional time to ease the process. We treat our clients like our family and will work hand-in-hand with their insurance provider to get them back into their normal routines. …

We handle water and fire remediation and restoration by providing an array of services to restore and protect your building for the future.

Another area that we excel in is the renovations of residential homes. These projects allow us to help our customers take their dream and turn it into a reality.

One of our recent projects was to turn an unlivable attic into a luxurious master retreat, featuring a large master bath, two full walk-in closets and a beautiful bedroom space. This project exceeded our customers’ expectations leaving them with a beautiful space to make part of their home. …

LVB: How does D&S Elite Construction, Inc. directly stimulate the local economy?
Delibertis: Our customers are located in the local area, and so are we. We work here and live here.

​I began working as a carpenter helper beside my dad at the age of 10 here in Berks County. After graduating from high school, I went on to further my education at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport and received an associate degree in building construction.

Our region is a great place to grow up, learn and raise a family. It is one of the reasons I stayed in the area after graduation and started my business here.

We are committed to being good neighbors as well as providing exceptional service to our customers. The most powerful thing we do is work with other small businesses to help the community grow. We hire local employees, subcontractors and vendors using locally made products whenever possible.

We have a strong sense of family at D&S Elite Construction, Inc. and this translates in our community involvement from JDRF [Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation] … and countless sponsorships of local golf tournaments supporting various local charities and organizations.

LVB: What does the future look like for D&S Elite Construction, Inc.? Does it have plans for growth?
Delibertis: Our future looks bright at D&S Elite Construction, Inc. We are gearing up to support our growing backlog for the spring, including several home additions and renovations. Our reputation has helped us grow through referrals and repeat customers.

LVB article