January 2011 Newsletter

Residential Building Mandates, Bellevue Homes & Lifestyles Show and more in this issue.

Happy New Year to all!

Powerless During Winter

Losing power in the middle of winter is not the ideal situation.  Having a safe & reliable backup generator can make your outage much more enjoyable.

Share your story about winter outages to help others prepare....

What's the Worst that Could Happen to Your Home This Winter?

This winter, a La Nina pattern is expected to produce colder and wetter conditions than normal.  We know what this weather pattern means to our daily commute, but [more]

Rushing into uncertain future?

The past 2 1/2 years have been economically stormy.  With brighter days ahead, how prepared will we be to accommodate the rush?

Because Tenhulzen Remodeling has been the current size and twice the current size, it seems the secret is scalability.  Process and procedures remain constant at various levels of productivity.  With scalability, finding the balance points between gross volume and number of employees are relatively easy.

The real challenge becomes finding and hiring the right people.

November Newsletter - Election Edition

November's monthly e-Zine focuses on political housing issues and preparing for a La Nina winter.

Also, congratulations to Rob Stevens for drawing the winning raffle ticket at the October Open House.  Next Open House March 30th.

Vote for housing-friendly candidates

Housing-friendly candidates in King County help to keep housing affordable. Legislation that adds cost and complexity to building and renovating single family homes are simply passed on to the consumer.  Housing-friendly legislators understand how the industry works to maintain sustainable and affordable communities.

2010 Remodeled Homes Tour

Good turnout, excellent quality of prospective customers.

Each year, a Saturday and Sunday tour of some of the finest renovators in King and Snohomish counties put on a tour of completed remodeling projects.  The event allows for the public to tour what cannot be portrayed in photographs.

This year's Remodeled Homes Tour was organized largely on the West side of Lake Washington.  Our home was situated on the SE portion of the Sammamish Plateau.  And although only receiving 40 guests during the 2-day show, we had a lot of enthusiasm about our quality of work and Design Build process.

Four appointments were set during the show and 3 others pending.  Out of some 20 couples, a 14% yield is higher than we've received in many years.

We look forward to showcasing more of our work to the public throughout the year and at the 2011 RHT.

Open House - October 2010

This is the 3rd Open House TR has hosted this year.  May was a wonderful turnout of Redmond business leaders.  The date in July was so that the A/C registers became the main attraction.  Last night's event yielded the nicest weather of the week and certainly included a wonderful group of people.

Frederick's Appliance donated a $400 wine chiller that was raffled off at $10 per ticket.  With his single chance, Rob Stevens won out of a field of 23 ticket buyers.  The total of $230 was given to Ezzy from HopeLink, the charity of choice, who made a gracious presentation about how their organization helps the community.

Our next Open House will be in April of 2011.

October Newsletter

This month:
Protecting your home from the increased rate of home burglaries.
Online consumer information sources.
Home improvement events.
Caption contest winner

Personalized Home Renovation Expo

Join Tenhulzen Remodeling and an array of interesting products for an Open House in Redmond.
October 6th, 4-7PM.
http://tenhulzen.com/showcase/

Best of Western Washington

In 2009, TR received 40 votes with a 5-star rating from our past customers and industry relations.

For 2010, we hope to increase participation by expanding to additional contacts.

Please vote and share: http://best.king5.com/tenhulzen-remodeling-inc/biz/491949

Michael Tenhulzen, CGR, CAPS

President

September Newsletter

Needing work done before the holidays?
Want guidance on preparing your home for winter?
Not sure if a tankless water heater is right for you?

This and more in the September 2010 Issue.

Tess is getting married

Please share your thoughts for Tess on her special day.

Award-winning kitchen

Tenhulzen Remodeling just won the gold award for a kitchen $50,00 - $100,000 in the Qualified Remodeler Master Design Awards contest.

DIY Risk Evaluation

The Do-It-Youselfer has to be careful when hiring uninsured contractors. If an uninsured worker gets injured on their property, the homeowner is entirely liable for workers' compensation payments and potential lawsuits. [more]

August Newsletter

Wanting to avoid the permit process?  Wondering how our Open House event was?  The August Newsletter is here.

A sound alternative to price-shopping contractors.

Most would argue “perceived value” is the result of our wants and needs being met, relative to cost.  That is to say, all else being equal, then price determines the appropriate resource.  What most homeowners don’t realize is [more]

July Newsletter

This month's E-zine is packed with events and award-winning projects.

Save the date for the Open House at our office this Friday, July 9th.

June Newsletter

Graduations and Start of Summer

Check out our latest issue for:

• National Award (x2) reciepient
• Rampathon recap
• Open House event
• Project Showcase event
• Staff member spotlight
• Outdoor living spaces
• Cell phone law
• Gift basket report
• Caption contest winner

Unregistered contractors

The remodeling industry sees this as a big problem.

Does the homeowner recognize the risks with hiring an unregistered contractor?

See full story in the July Newsletter.....

Inequity of an eathquake

What's your home worth after a major seismic event?

Although the homes of our region have endured some significant shakes, the big one they say is an inevitability will likely shift a large percentage of our neighborhoods off their foundations, making thousands of houses uninhabitable.

It is up to the homeowner to protect their family by seismically retrofitting their investment.

'Newsletter - May is National Remodeling Month'

'Newsletter - May is National Remodeling Month'

Improving Economy?

In 2008, many of our peers in the remodeling industry locally and nationally were hoping 2009 would be better.  During 2009, those who survived the downturn braced their companies for a recovery in 2011.  With the first quarter of 2010 on the books, there is an emerging distinction between those companies who are still struggling and those that are performing better than expected.

The distinction is perceived value.

Every remodeling company has a public perception.  Some are know to be expensive, some are known to be fast, others are known to provide excellent craftsmanship.  When the economy is in a recession, there are very few homeowners that would be willing to pay the premium to have all 3.  So when the most expensive one lowers their price, does it affect the public's perception?

Use the story of the Titanic for analogy:  If the business owner is at the steering wheel, the public perception is the course of the ship and the economic cliff is the iceberg, you can see why it has been difficult for companies to stay afloat.  Those that have are also likely to have an improved perceived value.  Why?  Because people like doing business with successful people.

"If they can make it through this economy, they'll likely be around to service my home in the future".

Prevention, Reaction and Solution for the severe wind storm

High winds can hit our region throughout the winter and spring.  Falling trees are usually the largest threat.  Here's a few things to consider when the warning comes from off the coast.

Prevention: [more]

Reaction: [more]

Solution: [more]

Making the most of your money without sacrificing too much of your time.

How do you get the most for your investment while preserving your sanity?

Many people fear home improvement for sake of having to endure the process of finding a contractor.  Others’ fears begin once the contractor has been chosen.  Choices ranging from the guru to the scam artist exist in every mature industry.  The trick is finding the professional that can meet your needs and validate your decision with professionalism.  Like your doctor or accountant, a contractor should be selected carefully to ensure a lasting relationship of understanding and trust.

Nobody ever asks for poor design and poor workmanship, but we’ve all heard the horror stories.  Next time you locate a company in the yellow pages, try substituting a competitor’s name.  Does it make a difference in which you choose?  This exercise illustrates 2 things clearly: firstly, it is difficult to differentiate from one to the next, and secondly, a significant gap exists between a company’s intent and their actual performance.  In today’s market, choosing 3 contractors and throwing out the high and low bids does not guarantee you an average job for an average price.  It does prove, however, that price is not the most important consideration when selecting a contractor.

Because people generally gravitate to those with similar values, try committing some time to query neighbors, colleagues and other acquaintances for references to reliable contractors.  With little effort, you’ll soon develop a short list of names.  From this list, you should spend some significant time to determine which is best suited for your communication style and project scope.  The more time spent finding the right match, the less time and energy you’ll spend struggling during the project.

Consult the web for additional information about choosing a contractor.  The Consumer Resources section of my website contains a 10-Tips document with links to government and private resources.

Importance of the Pre-Construction Meeting

When you have arrived at a design that fits your home and lifestyle, it’s time to make that
dream a reality. If you’re about to begin a remodeling project, you and your builder are
going to be housemates for the next several weeks, maybe even months. [more]

April Newsletter

April's Ezine is focused on Community Commitments that our company is involved in this Spring.  The next time we visit this topic again will be in November.

Participate in the monthly Caption Contest and get your home prepared for the next earthquake.

Next month's topic:  "May is National Remodeling Month"

Questions to Ask Your Designer or Builder's Past Clients

It's been said that the best indicator of the future is the past. This is especially true when
it comes to remodeling professionals. You'll want to choose a builder that is responsible,
dependable, and does high quality work.

Request references and speak to those clients that have worked with the builder in the past.

Here's a list of questions you should consider asking. [more]

Safest Small Remodeler in the Country

Video: The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) awarded Tenhulzen Remodeling the 2nd Annual SAFE Award in the category for a remodeling company with less than 50 employees.

In addition to construction safety policies, TR is also a non-smoking company, protects the home and its contents during construction and requires an annual agreement signed by all Trade Contractors.

Protecting Yourself and Your Home

Floor protection and dust barriers are certainly important in protecting you and your
home during a remodeling project. But nothing protects you and your home better than a
well-written contract.

• Always get agreements in writing!
A thorough contract protects you and your builder....[more]

• Detail the work to be done
Be as specific as possible when specifying the builder's scope of work....

• Detail the work NOT to be done
If you are coordinating a large project....

• Discuss the procedure for changes
It's been said that “Nothing is constant but Change”....

• If there's something you don't understand, ask questions!
Your contract is an important component of....

• Include the payment terms of the project
Payment schedules are usually....[more]

Coping With Construction

A remodeling project is often more than just blueprints, nails, and wood. A remodeling
project involves transforming the home and working within the delicate boundaries of
family, lifestyle, possessions and privacy. Here are some helpful tips for making your
remodeling experience as stress-free as possible. [more]

• Put Safety First
Concern for the safety of your family and property is foremost on the mind of
both you and your builder. Taking positive steps to put safety first can allay fears
and bring you peace of mind.

• Maintain Lines of Communication
Remain involved in the project and its scheduling, along with decisions that are
being made. Use daily discussions as well as mandatory weekly and milestone
meetings to discuss concerns honestly and openly. Keep written records so that
both you and your builder remember what decisions were made, and when.

• Attend Mandatory Milestone Meetings
Milestone meetings are critical for evaluating construction progress and making
important decisions about the way you'll really be living in the house. They may
even be tied into your construction payment schedule.

• Take a Mini-Vacation
Coming home to strangers, dust, and noise can make even the most resolved of
homeowners feel stressed.

• Be Flexible
Usually, remodeling is a compromise between our fantasies for a perfect house
and the reality of what we can and cannot do.

• Take Lots of Photos!
Once you start living in your beautiful new home, those memories of the
construction process will begin to fade away. Keeping a journal during
construction is a great way to memorialize this special time in your family's life.
Jot down your feelings during the construction, as well as any interesting stories
to tell later! [more]

Has Chicken Little visited you recently?

The sky isn’t falling, but if your home improvement dreams have been in the clouds, they are certainly well within reach now. [more]

March Newsletter

This month's E-zine links the four elements to our homes and lifestyles.

The current edition is available at:
http://www.tenhulzen.com/consumerresources/news/newsletter/770/

Click the "subscribe" button to receive Tenhulzen Remodeling's E-zine directly to your inbox.

Choosing a Builder: What to Look For, What to Ask

When hiring remodeling professionals, always remember their service is their product. The better the service, the better your project and the higher your satisfaction will be. Listed below are some questions you may want to explore during an interview with a potential builder. [Expanded content]

• Business Management
A high percentage of remodeling companies go out of business, and it's usually while in the middle of someone's job. So the company's business management does have a direct effect on you and your home.

• Technical Expertise
Don't trust your home to an inexperienced builder! Design and building knowledge and experience do matter! Does the builder…[Checklist]

• Client Satisfaction and Attention
How is client satisfaction and attention measured within the company? If it's not measured, maybe it's not taken that seriously. Would you invite these people over for dinner?

Gathering Ideas For Remodeling

Good design planning can often make the difference between a good remodel and a great
remodel. However, it’s often difficult to think critically about where we live, a place
we’ve seen day in and day out for years. These exercises can help you set your
remodeling goals.[Link to expanded content]

• Think About Spaces
Look at the places where you live, work, visit. Browse through pictures in magazines, websites, books, etc. for colors, styles, items, or buildings which catch your eye.  Don't edit yourself – just go with your instinctive reactions to the space.

• Understand Where You Live Now
List the existing rooms in your house. Under each room, list what activities the room is used for, and how often. Then, prioritize the list according to most/least used.

• Make Need-to-Have/Want-to-Have Lists
Some items will be more important than others. Those most important items might be your remodeling priorities. They are the elements you need in your environment to make daily living more enjoyable.

• Some Notes About Design
The greater the complexity of the project, the more structured your plans will
need to be. Detailed plans not only help you visualize your ideas as you're
creating them, but are also necessary for the construction that will take place later.

Plan Your Remodel for the Future

We have heard this story in a variety of different ways, time and time again.

A homeowner decides to “just add a room” for more space. However, in preparing the
design, there isn't enough time devoted to the family's plans for the future. Also, the room
is added to an existing portion of the house, which might not make sense with the flow of
the rest of the house.

10 years later, the addition has to be torn down because the family needs to enlarge the
old room and the new room is in the way.

Lessons Learned:

• Think about the future when preparing your design
If the designer had asked how the family planned to live in the next ten or fifteen years, the addition might not have been placed in such a way as to limit the size of the old room.

• Invest your money wisely the first time
Remodeling is an important enough investment to take seriously and do right the first time. This homeowner might have saved some money initially by not preparing a detailed design, but that amount is minor compared to the cost of tearing down the addition and remodeling again.