FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
Pricing...whether most contractors will admit it or not, it is one of the more challenging aspects of the business. There are many areas that are pretty straight forward and a standard pricing schedule can be applied but there are also many things that are not. For example, how much does it cost to build a 18' x 25' addition for a master bedroom with a modest walk in closet and bath? This isn't like asking how much will a new set of tires cost me? There are so many variables that go into pricing a job in this example and no two will be exactly the same...why? For starters, is your house built on a slab or does it have a crawlspace or basement? Where are the plumbing, heating and electric located and what do we have to do to tie into them? Do we have to cut into the slab from the other side of the house to get the drains over to the existing drains or do we have an unfinished basement that allows us to connect into the existing? Do you have a cesspool or are you connected to the sewer system? If you have a cesspool then we have to deal with the Dept. of Health and we may have to upgrade your septic system to handle the additional bathroom...that involves taking core samples of the ground to see what kind of soil you have, how deep we have do set your system into the ground and it just goes on and on. Is your existing electrical system capable of handling the extra circuits required or will it be necessary to upgrade your existing electrical service to accommodate the addition? So...when you want to know how much something will cost...it will always be in your best interest to schedule an appointment with the contractor so we can see what "your house" will cost you. Anyone giving you a quick price, whether it be per square foot or otherwise is just providing you a quick response (which could be very low or very high) and simply put telling you what you want to hear...NOT what you NEED to hear and know! Do your due diligence and put in the time to have us walk through your home and have an exchange of questions and answers between us and please...employ common sense when asking for pricing and take the time meet with us. The few examples I've mentioned above are just that...a few of the things we need to evaluate to properly and accurately price your project. Lastly, observe the character traits of the contractors you meet with. Are they trying to "sell" you a job? Do they come off as "know-it-all's?" Listen, some of us know more than others but very few if any of us knows it all...we, like the rest of the world are always learning something new or think we've seen it all until the next thing pops up that we've never seen before. And it's our experience that teaches us how to properly handle the challenge. Best of luck with your future home improvement projects...we hope the information we've provided serves you well!
- How did you get started doing this type of work?
Well....at age ten I was my father's helper on many home improvement projects around the house. I always knew I didn't want to sit behind a desk my whole life and I have always enjoyed and had a talent working with my hands. A family member told me, at age 3, I said I wanted to own my own business. So when an opportunity came my way in my early 20's, I took it and have been in business for myself in the home improvement trades for 23 yrs. now...and counting.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
They come in waves. Sometimes it's bathrooms, other times it's decks or siding or windows and sometimes it's whole house renovations or additions. It's forever changing. Many of our customers start out with having us in for a small job because they saw us at the neighbor's house, then have us back for a bathroom remodel, then a siding job, then painting, next...a deck, etc.