Contractors, Craigslist and You

Today was one of those rare days where I had a ton of things to do, but was forced to call it an early day due to morning rain and catch up on office work, accounting, returning phone calls and preparing bids. Now looking at the clock on the screen, it is 4:00 pm and I had the rare opportunity to browse Craigslist for a bit. You really can find anything on that thing. From cars and trucks to houses, bankers and even romance if that’s your thing. I then took a look at the Skilled Trades section and was amazed at how many guys and gals out there are using this medium to advertise there business. But what worried me was the amount of ads that never mentioned a company name, out of work carpenter’s offering to frame a basement for $1,000 site unseen, and charge another $1,000 for drywall and yet another for trim. I can only assume the homeowner has to buy materials. I even saw one that said he would beat any written estimate. To me as a professional contractor with over 14 years in the construction business, that guy relies on contractors  to do the hard part, estimating, and then takes 10% off our price to do the job. It frustrates me to think of how many homeowners get ripped off by unscrupulous “contractors” daily. All I can say is “Buyer Beware”. It is no wonder that a show on HGTV, Holmes on Holmes and Holmes Inspections could have such a following and a never ending supply of renovations with the practices of some “contractors”.

Now don’t get me wrong, I am not trying to bash anyone in particular, but it is hard to sit by and watch people knowingly rip people off. Everything from storm chasers who are here today and gone tomorrow to out of work tradesmen looking to make a dollar and support their families can be found on Craigslist. Even a few reputable firms like mine will post there occasionally in hopes of gaining market share. With the economy down and ever dollar needing to go further than before, I can see how lowest cost for a renovation can be appealing. Remember to be sure who ever you hire is insured, has references, and is licensed if applicable. For more advise on finding the right fit for your project, check out my post titled “Finding a Contractor”. And as always you can always call our office at 815-847-0359 for free estimates, design advice and/or references.

Roscoe Interiors Inc. “Quality Work & Great Customer Service”- it’s not a slogan, it’s what we do!

To Charge or Not To Charge……

…….that is the question! I have heard a lot of talk amongst contractors on opinions on charging for estimates. I have even read in some trade publications that it is becoming the norm to charge for what was a free service a few short months ago. Now like many other small business owners, I am always looking for new ways to increase revenues but lets break it down to basics.

A potential customer calls around to 3 companies to find a contractor to do work at their home. Two out of the three give free estimates. The last charges $100 for the estimate but credits the homeowner that money if they sign a contract with them to do work. Now knowing how this works, every one of the contractors will have a slightly different price. One will be high, one low and one in the middle. Now if all three contractors have a good reputation and the contractor that had the highest price also charged for the estimate, who would you choose? Most likely the highest estimate. In your opinion you already paid him/her some money so you might as well get it back. You might even feel obligated to use this contractor because you had to write them a check before you even had the project started.

Now no matter how many potential jobs I loose by not charging for an estimate, I would rather a customer hire my company because they “like” the way we operate, “like” the samples of our work they’ve seen, or just like dealing with me over the fact that they feel they “need” to get their money back.

So to answer my original question, to charge or not to charge? I don’t think I will charge for a service like an estimate, even if it goes against the new industry standard. Besides, since I started Roscoe Interiors, I have never followed the pack. Our out of the box thinking is what makes us stand out from our competitors.

“Quality Work & Great Customer Service”- it’s not a slogan, it’s what we do

QuicK Tip #1

I decided to start offering quick, money saving tips for home improvements. This first tip may seem simple, but it can dramatically change the look of a room. OK, most people have wood trim for base moldings and around windows and doors. Now if you are like me, your taste has changed a lot over the years. When I was younger I loved shades of pine and country oak but as I have gotten older, dark cherries and walnuts have caught my eye. I recently remodeled my kitchen. The new cherry cabinets looked great. But the oak woodwork looked out of place with the dark tones of the new cabinets. Rather than rip it all out and buy new trim to install, I bought some walnut and chardonnay colored stains. First you have to prep the area to be stained by rubbing it with sandpaper. You don’t need to get the old finish off. Just rough it up so it will accept the new stain. Then I thoroughly cleaned and dried the surface. Make sure there is no dust or oils left behind. Then I stirred and applied the walnut stain to the wood to darken it. Be sure to apply in the direction of the woods grain and wipe all excess stain before it drys. After about an hour of dry time I repeated the process with the chardonnay stain. I use a stain and poly in one which stains and protects in the same coat. There is no need to sand in between applications. Remember, the more coats the darker it will get and you can only go darker to cover the old stain. If you want to go lighter, you need to strip the wood back to an unfinished state. This little project only took 2 hours not counting dry time and it changed the look of my woodwork for under $60 in stains and supplies. Be sure to test your colors on a scrap stock of wood or an area hidden to the eye, like behind the fridge or stove. Also, you may have to experiment a little to get the exact color you want. And as always, if you don’t want to do it yourself, you can always call Roscoe Interiors to take care of your remodeling needs.

Tis the Season!

I know it’s been quite some time since I posted. This is largely in part due to a busy Summer and Fall work schedule, but as many other contractors can confirm, the holiday season slows down. I my opinion, most homeowners move their focus to holiday parties, family get togethers and presents….oh the presents. The last thing on their mind is that nail pop in the ceiling or that storm door that doesn’t close so well anymore. They might need to fix the mailbox the plow took out, but that can wait until the new year. After all, it’s Christmas time, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice, whatever you may call it and that is the happiest time of the year. But with a continued down economy and unemployment at an all time high in the state-line area ( where we reside) the budget is tighter, the presents are bigger and home improvement has to take a back burner to more important things.  And it should. After all, we work hard all year taking time away from our families. Rushing to work and working 16 hour days takes it’s toll and slowing down to enjoy the little things is a welcomed change of pace.

So with all that said, I want to take a moment to thank my wife Venise for putting up with the long hours, crazy schedules and phone calls day and night and all the missed dinners. I would like to thank my 3 wonderful children for understanding when dad is on the phone it is important and for knowing I always try to make every practice and game but sometimes that doesn’t happen. I would like to thank the companies I have “partnered” with this past year. They have helped me immensely with mentoring, lead generation and completing projects on time and on budget. And last but not least, I would like to thank all my clients. After all, I am not self-employed, I work for you and you have all have been great employers this year and hopefully for many years to come.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Winter Solstice, Happy Holidays and to all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year!

The Power Of Networking

On November 16, 2010 Roscoe Interiors Inc will hit the milestone of being in business for one year. Although many might say “What’s the big deal?”, I feel it to be a major accomplishment. Now I haven’t posted in a long while partly due to the fact that we are extremely busy, but I can’t help but wonder how did a small start up remodeling company  get so popular so quickly?  Was it a void in the market that needed to be filled? Was the local population feed up with their choices? Is it just a fluke?

After serious thought, I have to say no on all counts. I am blessed to be in an area with great contractors and if you every looked at a Roscoe,IL phone book, you would see what seems to be more contractors per capita  than would really every be required. I believe the secret to my continuing success isn’t just hard work, clear vision and a great team of sub-contractors but something bigger than that. Since I started Roscoe Interiors I have been a member of the Roscoe Area Chamber of Commerce. This group of business professionals have contributed more to my success than any print ad could ever.

From the start I joined a LEADS networking group. Although our group is the smaller of the two the chamber sponsors, it has some great people that are like minded and want to help each other grow their respective businesses. I can honestly say that through the relationships I have developed with other local business owners in my community, I have received and given a great number of  referrals or leads, that have turned into contracts signed which in return turns into money. And after all, making money is why we are in business in the first place. But it is not just giving and receiving leads that I have gotten from my experience. I have become great friends with a number of the people I deal with at the Chamber, and some of those friends have also become clients.  Without the friendships I have made, I don’t think I could have gotten this far, this fast. I thank God each and every day for the people that have come into my life over the past 11 months. With out them, I wouldn’t be here now. I was at a seminar a few weeks ago and the head of the organization running it said “…the more you give, the more you get”. It turns out he was 100% right. With every client I can recommend to another chamber member, I seem to get two referrals back.

The power of networking, relationship building and success is a force unlike any other marketing campaign. Anyone can place ads in papers, on billboards, and on the radio but when another business owner refers your company to one of their friends, family members or clients you get something no amount of money can buy. Thanks to the relationships I have made through the Roscoe Area Chamber of Commerce, I have a platform to give back to the community and local businesses and in return I have a path for life long success.

To quote Aristotle-“Excellence is not an act, it’s a habit.”

Remodeling in a Recession

The recession has effected everyone in one way or another and with homes worth less today than they were a few short years ago, upgrading to a bigger home may not be an option. Credit requirements are more strict now than ever. So how do you upgrade with out moving. The answer is to remodel.

Something as simple as redesigning your kitchen layout or finishing your basement not only gives you more functional space, but it also builds equity in your home. This equity will be recouped when you finally decide to sell.

Now where to begin. There are a lot of contractors and remodelers out there that are here today and gone tomorrow. Search local websites, look through the contractor lists at the big box stores, ask friends and neighbors. Chances are someone you know has had some remodeling done in the past few years. After you find someone you feel comfortable with, ask for references. Most contractors are proud of the work they do and have pictures and reviews from clients to prove it. Be sure your contractor is insured. This is very important. If any damage is done to your home or a worker gets hurt, you don’t want to have to flip the bill.

Also be wary of a roofer that says he can customize a kitchen and vise versa. You wouldn’t hire a mechanic to be your doctor, nor should you use a company that doesn’t specialize in what you are building.

I hope this helps, and if you find yourself in need of a remodeler, please give Roscoe Interiors Inc. a look. I am certain that after seeing the work we provide, you won’t look any further.

The Buck Stops Here!

Not too long ago I had a contractor here in town ask me “what kind of contractor drives around in that?” He was referring to my 2007 Chevy HHR. I simply responded, “the kind that gets 30 miles to the gallon” with a smile on my face and a small chuckle. As a contractor, I have a necessity for a large truck or van to haul tools and materials from jobsite to jobsite. My poison of choice is a 2004 Chevy 3500 Crew Cab Diesel with a homemade 10’ steel bed, tool boxes, and ladder racks affectionately referred to as “Big Red”.  While this beast has been known to carry 100 sheets of 12’ ½ “ drywall and 100 80lbs bags of concrete (not at the same time), it is also know to drink enough fuel to make a Saudi Prince dance in the streets with delight. By leaving “Big Red” at home and taking “Little Blue” (kind of a joke regarding the HHR) when I am running around all day looking at possible jobs, running company errands, and checking in on jobsites, I can keep my overhead costs down and in return, pass along that savings to my customers. So next time you see a blue HHR with Roscoe Interiors on the side driving around town, you can answer the question “what kind of contractor drives around in that?” with “the kind that cares about cost as much as quality!”

After all the buck stops here!

Choosing a Contractor

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you realize you need to hire a contractor to perform work in your home? Now let’s be honest, you all think “How much is this going to cost me?”

The contractor is revered as one of the lowest of low ranking just higher than the tax collector. According to the Consumer Federation of America and The National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators, the home improvement industry has ranked in the top 2 of all industries for consumer fraud and customer dissatisfaction for the past 10 years. Now in reality, most remodeling contractors are upstanding, honest, hard working individuals, like me, who want to give the consumer an honest day’s work for an honest days pay.

So how did it get so bad? A lot of people have gotten into the construction industry trying to get rich quick. They don’t follow laws, codes, or have a morale compass. They rush into town after a storm and pressure home owners devastated by storm damage to sign over insurance checks, perform shoddy work, and skip town with no warranty. They are the contractors who refuse to carry liability insurance, or they hire illegal aliens to perform work. Some of these contractors might even change their company name from year to year to void out any warranties they may have given.

So, how do you find a reparable contractor? Well, word of mouth is a great thing and that is why contractors like me join BNI groups or Chamber of Commerce Leads Groups. There are websites like Angie’s List who for a small monthly fee let’s you read reviews on contractors. I find this is not as effective due to the need to ask your customers to spend more money in order to give you a good review. I have found that a lot of my customers when asked “why did you choose to use me?” overwhelmingly answered with “I felt a connection” or “I thought you seemed honest”. How we present ourselves has as much to do with if we get the job as the quality of our work. I suggest meeting with at least 4 contractors minimum.

• Ask each for references, after all, if he is good, he will be proud to show off his work.
• Lowest price isn’t always best. A contractor who comes in a couple of grand less than his competition might not know exactly what the job entails and therefore can’t bid it properly.
• Feel comfortable with who you choose. After all, you are inviting this person into your home, your safe place, and your life for the next few days to a few months. If you get nervous or uneasy around this person, you might want to not hire them, even if they came highly recommended.
• Get educated on every legal requirement your municipality has for your renovation and contractors. If your town requires a license or permit, make sure your contractor can obtain these things.

Remember, it is the responsibility of the homeowner to educate themselves on the realities and risks in renovating a home.

So with all the negative things about contractors, why would anyone want to open a construction company? I started Roscoe Interiors with the goal of giving quality work and great customer service. I know that sounds cliché or corny but it is more than a slogan for me. Throughout my career, I have worked on both sides of the non-union/union fence and have seen the best and the worst of both sides.

Since starting my company, I have tried to combine what was great about both sides while leaving the negative qualities of each behind to bring about a service unseen before in the construction industry. The key to Roscoe Interior’s success will be a basic set of principles long forgotten by the construction industry.

• Professionalism in attitude and appearance
• Honesty and Integrity
• Pride and Craftsmanship
• Customer Service & Satisfaction

It seems very simple, but too often overlooked by contractors all over the country. I believe that these principles I use in running my business puts me ahead of other contractors and makes Roscoe Interiors the best choice for your next remodeling project.