Romani Construction and Development

04/02/2025

Free guide: how to choose a contractor

A free guide to choosing a contractor (LA Fires Update)

02/13/2025

Rebuilding with Confidence: A Complete FREE Guide to Choosing a Contractor
is now available to download here: romaniconstruction.com/rebuild

This guide includes essential guidance for fire survivors and homeowners from a builder’s wife with 40 years’ experience.

Rebuilding with Confidence will give you clear steps to follow as you navigate choosing a contractor to rebuild your home after devastating loss. It includes how to check license status, what questions to ask as you interview a contractor, how to reach previous clients for their input, what to know about dealing with insurance claims, and red flags & scams to watch out for.

While we wish we could help everyone who lost a home in the devastating SoCal fires, we know that's not possible. I wrote this guide to help those who are overwhelmed about the prospect of finding and choosing a contractor. It's my hope that it will relieve some of the unknowns and give you a place to start from as you heal and rebuild your beloved home.

With hope for a brighter future,
Tami Romani *the Builder's Wife*

01/11/2025

Fire. Just the thought of losing everything in a tragic and frightening fire makes my heart hurt.

Days before the 2025 firestorms in L.A. and Altadena erupted, I was working on purging our home of 36 years of stuff we'd accumulated. I'm ashamed to say I was actually waffling over how much to give away. As I held each item and recalled a memory attached to it, I had to decide if it was worthy of keeping, donating, or selling. In hindsight, I think about how trivial that is, and how I still have to continue my own sorting process as I work to unload the heaviness of all we've accumulated over the years.

Now, I want to give it all away. How could I be so attached to my acquired stuff when so many of my friends, family, and acquaintances have lost absolutely everything?

I find myself wondering if someone who's lost all their precious mementos might appreciate a Lladro figurine, or maybe a pretty vintage milk glass vase. Sugar and Creamer, anyone? Of course that's ridiculous at this point. What they need now is cash to buy new clothes, some warm blankets, baby essentials and food.

As the fires still rage, I find myself sitting in the tension of being overwhelmed at seeing our friends lose everything, wanting to help, and yet not knowing the right thing to do. What I am sure of is that we are in this for the long-haul and we will help those we can and trust there are others who will help with the rest.

I'm remembering what my friend Sharon McMahon says: "In moments like this, do for one person what you wish you could do for everyone."

When we come together in community to help those in need, the need to know what to do vanishes. We are presented with an opportunity to help, and we help. Even if it's for one person. We help. And it makes a difference.

In our own broken hearts from watching the devastation and the pain of our neighbors, may we bring the best parts of ourselves and offer healing and HOPE.

I'm right there with you.

With love,
Tami Romani - the Builder's Wife