Wilber's Painting
About Wilber's Home Improvements
When Dan Sharp accidentally overpaid Rony by $1,000 in cash for a large exterior project, he figured the money was gone. No receipt, no way to prove the mistake. An hour later, Rony called from the office: he'd noticed the extra thousand while recording the payment and drove 30 minutes back to return it. This moment captures what investigating over 100 Google reviews reveals about Wilber's Home Improvements: beneath the typical contractor promises lies an operation where personal integrity drives business decisions.
The numbers paint one picture: well over 100 five-star Google reviews, projects from $820 newel post repairs to complete historic home restorations, EPA certifications, New Jersey contractor license #13VH06449500 active through 2026. But dive into the actual customer stories and something different emerges. Crews bringing their own microwaves to avoid using clients' kitchens. Foreman Dennis making cracked plaster disappear in 1930s homes. Workers returning unprompted to clean bird droppings off freshly painted siding. These aren't marketed services or upsells. They're simply how Wilber Vargas has run his Maplewood operation for 25 years.
What's notably absent tells its own story. No Instagram presence, basic Wix website missing phone number and address, no Houzz profile despite being perfect for that platform. Yet somehow 343 Angi reviews averaging 4.9 stars. This is word-of-mouth construction in its purest form, where Eduardo brings flowers when he learns a client is pregnant, where Cesar reinforces rotting deck joists without delaying timelines or demanding change orders. From their unmarked shop on Millburn Avenue, this team has built something that feels less like hiring a contractor and more like having skilled neighbors who happen to own professional equipment. The three negative reviews in two years all involve the same pattern: long-term customers shocked by sudden price increases or communication failures, suggesting even reliable relationships can fracture when business practices shift.
Updated: 10-01-2025
Q&A Based On What Customers Are Saying About Wilber's Home Improvements
Q: Do their crews actually protect homes during work?
Multiple reviewers specifically praise unusual care taken with properties. One noted "they took their shoes off prior to entering my house" while another mentioned crews who "always leaving the space neat and tidy at the end of each day." The attention extends to protecting floors with kraft paper and covering furniture, though one customer reported floor damage from equipment in 2019.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: How do they handle unexpected problems discovered mid-project?
The deck project review reveals their approach: when "Edwin and his crew began tearing out the old deck, they discovered several joists were in really poor condition" they immediately reinforced everything properly without delaying the project. Another customer praised their flexibility when "project requirements shifted over time" noting the team's responsiveness and willingness to adapt.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: What about their pricing disputes mentioned in negative reviews?
Don O.'s detailed complaint about being charged $820 for a one-hour newel post repair that only required "a 2 ft. 2x4 and tightening the bolt" appears twice (BBB and Angi). He claims Wilber never returned his three calls to discuss the pricing. This represents one of only three negative reviews among hundreds, but the lack of response is concerning.
-Review Snippet Sources: Angi, BBB
Q: Are they equipped for historic home restoration?
Kate Johnson's review of her "1853 historic house exterior refinishing project" describes extensive work where "the entire exterior of our house, including the shutters, was sanded, grinded, and hand scraped down to bare wood." The 1930s home with extensive molding also received specialized attention, suggesting real expertise with older properties.
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews
Q: Do they maintain consistent crew quality?
Reviews consistently name specific crew members (Eddie, Cesar, Dennis, Rony, Eduardo) with praise, indicating stable employment and consistent teams. One reviewer mentioned using them for "more than 20 years" and being "treated like family every time," while crews are described as appearing to genuinely "like each other, Mr. Barrantes and working for Wilber's."
-Review Snippet Sources: Google Reviews, BestofEssex
Updated: 10-01-2025