Here is a snippet from the article by Patrick O’Toole

“About 18 months ago, when the financial crisis sidelined the American consumer, phones stopped ringing for many, if not most, remodeling firms. This was true across the board, even those well-established firms with sterling reputations. So it is hard to imagine that the impact on newer companies and those with questionable reputations was anything but harsh.

When the dust settles and we begin to assess the impact of this recession on remodeling firms, a good analogy is likely to be that of a fire in an old-growth forest — only the strongest will have survived while much of the underbrush (less established firms and those with poor reputations) were swept away. Ironically, the numerical loss of firms will ultimately make the surviving firms stronger. Now, with the results of Qualified Remodeler magazine’s sixth annual Remodeling Customer Satisfaction Survey, we are beginning to see those effects.

By asking remodeling customers about their experiences, post-remodel, over the past six years, we’ve been able to develop a time series of data that demonstrates three conclusions. 1.) Remodelers in the aggregate tend to get low to mediocre grades from their customers. 2.) Remodelers who are seen as exhibiting a certain set of positive behaviors (timeliness, etc.) tend to get much higher customer satisfaction scores. 3.) Remodeling firms tend to satisfy their customers at higher rates when market activity is lower as it was in 2009.

The first two points have been well established over each of the past six years, but the lessons learned are no less critical now as they were then. The third conclusion, that remodelers do a better job at satisfying customers during recessionary times, stands to reason. With fewer jobs to go around, established firms, with better systems and processes, are getting the jobs. It also suggests that each customer is getting more time and attention focused on their needs. Our goal with this analysis is to examine the underlying reasons and to see if reproducible patterns emerge and with those patterns offer constructive ideas on how to incorporate them in your remodeling and/or home improvement business…….”

Please click on the link below to read the entire article, and please let us know what you think!

Fewer Jobs, Greater Satisfaction

Here is an excerpt from the article by Maureen Alley

“There’s a saying that the kitchen is the heart of the home, which has never been more true when it comes to custom kitchen design. Homeowners are much savvier than they used to be and know every design and product option available. They are much more willing today to cut back expenses in other areas of a house if it guarantees they will get their dream kitchen at the end of the process.

Appliances are a major driving force in kitchen design. Some designers argue that appliances determine the storage and flow of a kitchen, making appliance selection a critical part of design. To guarantee the right appliances are chosen, it is pertinent that a designer knows what is important to his client. “If something is a ritual for a client, then I’ll focus on it,” says Stewart Davis, AIA, design director, CG&S Design/Build, Austin, Texas. “If they make coffee every morning, or drink a glass of wine at night, then we need to respond to that [lifestyle]. If those things are celebrated, thought about and carefully placed, then it responds to the clients’ lifestyle and is a successful design.”

Click on this link to read the entire article, and let us know what you think.

The Kitchen’s Balancing Act

This home (in Virginia Idaho) is a beautiful example of what a properly installed metal roof can (and should look like). This home was remodeled in 1995 and the red metal roof details the clean lines and classic architecture of the home.

This home also happens to be on the market so if you are interested in finding out more, just follow the link below! (MLS #536359)

Jayshomes.com

Also take the time to explore the contractors and sub-contractors that you will be using on your project. We of course have a number of excellent contractors that we can provide for any project, BUT if you are using your own, make sure he (or) she is credible. Take the time to go and look at some of their work. Ask past clients what they think of the person you are contemplating using. And don’t be afraid to get multiple bids on your project. Even if you are set on using a particular contractor it never hurts to see how they stand up to another bid.

Be careful when you do get your bids…..cheaper does not always mean better. I have a good contractor friend who recently was out-bid by nearly $15,000 on a project. When researching the reasons as to why my friend was so much higher it turns out that he had done a cost plus bid and his competitor had turned in a flat fee bid. This is like comparing apples to oranges (you just can’t compare). My friend turned in a cost plus bid (meaning he factored in his price, which the owners pay for up front….but everything beyond that is subject to what the owners want and what the project may surprises them with) any money left over in the end goes back to the homeowner.  He had tried to put enough into his bid to handle any and all surprises on the 1920’s remodel job. His competitors bid was a flat fee bid (which means you pay a flat fee weather the contractor spends that much or not there is no ‘money back’ at the end). Also with flat fee bids, if you make any changes the contractor will charge you for it…and if he finds any surprises in construction…he will charge you for it.

Both bid styles have their good and bad points, but remember you need to compare apples to apples. If you are getting cost plus bids, they all need to be cost plus…and vise-a-versa with flat fee bids.

Even if you aren’t adding on to an existing home you now have to meet the new requirements for any permit. This will make things more challenging for some of our clients who want to remodel!

Still working on the systems upgrade….keep your fingers crossed!!