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]