Adam Helfman inherited a legacy — then gave it new life, making it his own.
The founder of Bloomfield Hills-based Hire It Done (hireitdone.com), Helfman has been connecting Metro Detroit homeowners with curated and vetted contractors and home-improvement professionals. His philosophy: “Home improvement shouldn’t be a gamble.”
It’s a little bit brilliant.
Helfman is a fourth-generation renovation professional — his great-grandfather pioneered the business in 1926, building one the largest home-improvement companies in the country. The passion is in Helfman’s DNA, but the knowledge is based on a lifetime of immersion in the profession — plus a degree in building construction and management from Michigan State University.
In 2004, Helfman was recruited by ABC’s “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to work on the Emmy Award-winning episode renovation of the Oak Park home of deaf parents raising a blind autistic child.
Working on multiple episodes after that, he soon joined the show full time for two seasons.
Then, he says, he caught the “media bug.”
“I decided that I wanted to do the opposite of a handyman radio show,” Helfman says. “On my show, we’re going to teach people how to hire contractors without getting burned. And I called it Hire it Done.”
The Saturday-morning radio show launched in 2005, sharing expert advice, industry trends and practical tips, and his business followed soon after. A frequent guest on local broadcast news stations, he recently added to his media empire with the Hire It Done podcast; his YouTube page currently has 18.3K subscribers, with a combined-platform total of more than 100K followers.
“I’m the Angie’s List of home-improvement companies — but I also parallel that with the best home-improve advice in the country,” Helfman says. “I’m not anti-DIY. I’m pro-Do it For Me. Time’s the new currency. If you’re going to hire a contractor, you better make sure it’s the right one, because you don’t want to pay twice.”
Below, a hit-list of Helfman’s top contractor tips.
QUESTIONS TO ASK EVERY CONTRACTOR, AND QUESTIONS THEY DON’T WANT YOU TO ASK
Before You Start:
Get a written payment schedule: Tie payments to completed portions, not project starts.
Request a job schedule or calendar: All projects take longer than anticipated — always.
Define “usable completion”: Agree upfront on what this means for your specific project.
Establish a “"we’re not a match” clause: It’s not always the right fit. Create a written roadmap for ending the relationship without litigation.
Agree on holdbacks upfront: Make them contingent on specific deliveries or milestones, not open-ended.
Critical Questions to Ask Every Contractor:
1. What’s the difference between your warranty and guarantee? Understanding product vs. labor coverage protects you long-term.
2. If there’s a dispute, what’s your process? Get the dispute resolution method in writing before work begins.
3. If we’re unhappy with something, how do you propose to handle it? Know the process for addressing issues in real-time during the project.
4. What’s your change-order policy? Never pay for work you didn’t authorize in writing.
5. Can we define what “punchlist” means for this project? Clarify when final payment is due vs. when you can actually use the space.
During the Project:
- Pay only on completion: If demolition costs $5,000, pay when demolition is finished, not when it starts.
- Request bi-weekly walkthroughs: For longer projects, regular check-ins prevent surprises.
- Remember, contractors aren’t banks: They use your money to pay subs and suppliers — fair holdbacks protect both parties.
- Get everything in writing: Verbal agreements lead to “he said, she said” disputes.
Red Flags:
- Contractor requests large upfront payment before work begins
- No written contract or vague payment terms
- Resistance to defining dispute resolution processes
- No clear schedule or timeline provided
- Unwillingness to discuss the “exit strategy” if things don't work out