Know Your Remodeler

Know Your Remodeler

Many of our clients are anxious to learn all they can about the home remodeling process before embarking on their project. This is understandable and admirable. A remodeling project is exciting, can have a positive impact on a family’s quality of life, and is potentially an excellent financial investment.

A good place to begin the education process is with the remodeling contractor. Customers who understand the remodeler’s motivation and approach to the work will be better equipped to select a remodeler that suits their personality and project.

This is not a mysterious or complex undertaking—remodeling contractors are just business people. We possess skills that lend themselves to home improvement just as you apply your expertise to your chosen profession. Like many others, we want to earn a living doing something we’re good at and are passionate about, as well as leave some positive mark on the world.

As business people, we are interested in making money honestly by providing an excellent product for a fair price. Professional remodelers accomplish this goal by preparing business plans, understanding and adhering to client expectations, and establishing strong and reliable partnerships with suppliers, lenders, and subcontractors. We live in the communities in which we work, and therefore rely on our local reputations to sustain our business success.

As with any business, some remodeling contractors lack adequate business and communication skills to be successful, at least in the long term. Those human deficiencies—not intentional deceit—are the root of most horror stories about dissatisfied customers. Only a very small percentage of remodelers act badly, and they are often (and increasingly) ferreted out and exposed by various regulatory and industry certification standards that continue to improve the reputation and professionalism of the industry.

Professional remodelers—those with both the trade and the business management skills—work hard to avoid misunderstandings and miscommunication with their clients. That effort is sometimes challenging. Unlike other industries, construction work is exposed and open as it progresses, and takes place in the full view of the client. What may appear to be incomplete or a mistake might simply be an unfinished phase of the project.

As a homeowner and potential remodeling client, it is critical to remember that contractors are engaged in the remodeling process every day, year after year, developing a solid sense of daily progress and a vision for how the project will finish to their client’s satisfaction. Homeowners, on the other hand, may go through the remodeling process only once, and so don’t get to develop that long-term perspective.

Successful remodeling professionals recognize the difference between their experienced perspective and the untrained eyes of their clients. They bridge that gap by respecting a homeowner’s questions and providing clear and satisfactory answers. They understand the significant emotional investment and the financial risk undertaken by their clients, and they work hard to calm fears and debunk myths.

Informed homeowners, in turn, must understand that remodeling is all in a day’s work for a contractor. When both you and your remodeler respect each other’s role and approach to the project, it creates a greater opportunity to foster open communication, build trust, and achieve a successful and satisfying project.

Warm Regards,

Doug Abbott
Village Builders

This is an excerpt from a newsletter that is distributed to all former, current and future clients of Village Builders Inc.  If you would like to receive this newsletter feel free to email me at www.robabbott@villagebuilders.ca

Rob Abbott

Village Builders Inc

Some of the other things general contractors do other then building

Recently my wife had some family friends over for brunch. We just finished renovating our house (again) and after giving them a tour and explaining how everything in the house works the wife turned to me and said “we live in the city, I don’t think we could live in the country, there’s so much to know!”
I couldn’t help myself I replied “actually all you need is a good contractor.”
She gave me a curious look; it made me realize that people don’t understand all the things that general contractors do for their clients.

We don’t just build people houses, we end up advising on a wide selection of issues and organizing different people to come fix, repair or install different things.

Here are some of the things that general contractors help their client with that doesn’t include building and renovating;

• Landscapers. The hiring, organizing and advising of landscapers on what area’s they should stay away from when digging, planting and manicuring of lawns.

• Well and water treatment. If you are not on city water then you will eventually need someone to advice you on well pumps, pressure tanks, well heads, pump switches, well water lines, well water treatment, water protection and water testing. The treatment of well or city water these days can be an every growing issue. Homeowners are buying more expensive fixtures and appliances that require water treatment to help them last longer. Also water taste is a big issue; today as long as you want to spend the money then you can change the taste of your water to whatever you desire.

• Water drainage. One of the biggest problems people can have in the country is not having the proper water drainage away from their homes. People can be under the impression that they have a waterproofing problem when it could simply be a water drainage problem.

• Wildlife management. Wildlife can cause damage to your home and property. Sometimes you will need advice to deal with animals and sometimes you will need repairs after the fact.

• Decks and deck repairs. Owning a home means repairs, one of the most frequent repairs or replacements that happen to homes are the decks and patios. Decks and patios are exposed to the elements and wildlife; they take the biggest beating.

• Snow removal and winter damage. Organizing and advising on snow removal personal and repairing damage when it happens.

• Heating and cooling needs. When living in the country, heating can be a challenge. There are certain things that are only done in the country like geothermal heating and wood fired furnaces.

• Security. When living in the country you can have false alarms in your security system. It is cheaper and quicker to have someone like your contractor stop by and check the house instead of the alarm company who will send a bill for the false alarm.

• Advice on septic maintenance. There is a lot involved to taking care of a septic system properly. But once your general contractor has advised you on the best practices then you should have little difficulty. What you will need is advice from time to time on your system as different things happen.

• Surveying. If you ever want to install a fence, dig drainage ditches or build a small out building, the first thing the township will ask you for is if you have a current survey of the property. Also if you do not know your neighbours very well then it’s best to ask your contractor to organize a survey so that you can guarantee that you are not violating your neighbour’s property lines.

These are just some of things that contractors do for homeowners when living in the country. So don’t be afraid of the country, find yourself a good contractor that you can have a long relationship with that is beneficial for both parties.

Rob Abbott
Operations Manager
Village Builders Inc.