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    improve home improvement

    with efficient, effective communication.

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Want your thoughts

August 13th, 2010

What do you think is the smallest project that can benefit from Design/Build?

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When interviewing a remodeler

August 12th, 2010

The bathroom needs updatingYou’ve got a great idea for your kitchen, or the bathroom needs remodeling, right?  Many people look to hire a remodeler.  You don’t want a remodeler that creates headaches for you.

When interviewing a remodeler remember this:
…continue reading When interviewing a remodeler »

Connections – Real and Virtual

July 7th, 2010

I’ve been trying to start my days by reading some information.  It helps grow my understanding, and I gain a little bit of knowledge and exposure when I interact on those sites.  This morning was no exception.  Since I work in 3D for most of my work, an article titled,  It’s Time to Connect Your Real and Your Virtual Worlds, really piqued my interest.  I like working in 3D and making the models mimic the buildings as closely as possible.  Sometimes, I’ll take a crop of a digital picture to put details, such as special pictures or decorations, in the client’s model just for fun.
…continue reading Connections – Real and Virtual »

The advantages of direct cost service

June 7th, 2010

A recent article about college graduates that have tens of thousands of dollars in student loans stimulated some comparisons and thought regarding professional services.  The article, by default, posed the question of where the blame, or responsibility, lies in these cases.

One such party that could take responsibility is the university.  For the sake of this article, the university could be likened to a service company – they provide the students with the service of education. 
…continue reading The advantages of direct cost service »

How to not get soaked by a service professional

May 28th, 2010

It seems that many people are choosing to hire service professionals to perform a great many tasks.  These service providers could be a lawyer, accountant, lawn maintenance, home inspector, remodeling contractor, pest control, architect, interior designer, etc.  But, how does one know which to choose?  Are there clues to the un-professional service provider that can help steer you clear, and not get soaked?  YES!
…continue reading How to not get soaked by a service professional
»

Adding to communication

May 27th, 2010

With each and every project we start and complete, each one reminds us in its own unique way that communication is vital to the success of every project.  Makes sense since each project requires a relationship, and quite often a network of relationships in order to complete it.  So, adding to and honing communication is important since our clients want to see more with each year that passes.  Thus, we add to our communication skills!  If picture is worth a thousand words, how many words equals a video?
…continue reading Adding to communication »

Selecting a professional, part 2

May 19th, 2010

We know that there were two major wars in history, World War I and World War II.  There was the First Battle of Bull Run, and the Second Battle of Bull Run in the American Civil War.  However, when the first war ended, people didn’t call it World War I since they didn’t know that there would be a second war.  Yesterday, I posted the article Remodeling:How to find a professional not realizing that there would be a “part 2″ to come.

Today, I found a list of items that someone else posted to try and help people find a professional.  I’d like to address this list and hopefully give some perspective.
…continue reading Selecting a professional, part 2 »

Remodeling:How to find a professional

May 18th, 2010

In a recent article on Customer Service in the remodeling world, it was found that customer service seems to be a lost art.  We can all bemoan those problems, or we can do something about it.

A search on Facebook or Twitter can yield conflicting reports.  Many companies are creating their “Facebook fan club” or tweeting about the latest product or project.  Yet recently, some friends on Facebook replied to a question about their first thoughts on “remodeling”.   The responses ranged from “expensive” to “dirty” and “tiring”.

So, if you want to update your home, and you aren’t planning to do it yourself (or maybe you will hire part of it to be done), how does one select a contractor?  Selecting based on price will almost always lead you in the wrong direction!  But how else can we base our decision?
…continue reading Remodeling:How to find a professional »

Remodeling: Where did Customer Service go?

May 4th, 2010

Homeowners have been scared of remodeling – especially lately – for many reasons, and unfortunately many good reasons!  Many of those reasons can be wrapped up into the question posed in this article: Where did Customer Service go?

The stories are sadly both atrocious and frequent.  There is the neighbor who had the case of the missing contractor.  A friend has the Family Circus visit her dining room, complete with
…continue reading Remodeling: Where did Customer Service go? »

Just another ugly ramp?

April 12th, 2010

This morning the TEAM approach came thru again.  A homeowner was so happy with the process presented to them on their pantry/entry addition, that they asked the team to look at their exterior deck.

While it was “tempting” to go with the first thought that came to our collective minds, the prognosis
…continue reading Just another ugly ramp? »

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