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You’ve heard the saying, “the devil’s in the details” right? Typically, this saying is used negatively as a reaction to something unexpected happening to those “best laid plans.” At the end of this article is a picture of one of such details.
I like to turn this saying into a positive, pro-active tool during our projects as a reminder that details do matter. How do they matter? When do they matter? Why do they matter? Can we keep the devil away?
…continue reading Devil in the Details »
Yes, it has been a while since I’ve updated you on the Remodeling with ease series. There are several reasons for this, including two major holidays since the last update, but most importantly, the clients’ personality. To be clear, I hold no ill toward them, and have no frustration with them at all!
In the world of fast paced, 140 character updates, personal space and lines being misunderstood, etc., it would be easy to get frustrated with someone who takes their time. “But I want to update my blog…I need more content!” Hold on just one moment-this is the very purpose of this series! In our business model, our personal needs must take back seat to our clients’ needs – no, not even 2nd place. We call it the “ego-ectomy”. This is a very painful and gory procedure, but not a story for now. These clients’ “buy-cycle” is slower than others. That’s not wrong or bad, it’s just the way it is. And since we’re talking about “remodeling with ease“ then we need to make this easy for the clients, not us.
The “Design/Build” jargon is a fashionable one lately. People are starting to recognize benefit and value to the process. Contractors are learning what it is, and how it helps both them and their clients in the remodeling world. But, definitions are still a moving target and practices are quite different.
Ultimately, homeowners are purchasing the project, and thus, it is my belief, that the clients should be the ones making the choices and decisions. How many times, though, do we see homeowners that have a difficult time making decisions? I’ve heard the stories from both homeowners and contractors that decisions about such a large project in their lives can be very difficult to conclude!
…continue reading How can homeowners make comfortable remodeling decisions? »
All businesses have a business model – whether they realize it or not. Yes, that means some business models are not fully intentional. I must admit, creating a business model can be difficult, but it is important. It takes creativity, forethought, insight, and a lot of pure blood, sweat, and tears to create a business model.
The answer depends on whether you are a business person or a customer, but it is important to both.
…continue reading Is your model important? »
This question is important to ask for many reasons, and it plays an important role in our business for two reasons.
Most importantly, we ask this question of our clients since we are working to design something that fits them, and meets them in their taste. This makes it hard, since each project is unique, to share a portfolio of projects. Experience has taught us that what fit the last client most likely will not fit you. It hasn’t happened yet! So our goal is to learn about our client, in their home habits, circumstance, and needs.
…continue reading What’s unique about you? »
It’s a hard time to be in business, for sure. However, I have kept asking myself why am I seeing so many businesses start up during a down economy? (let me clarify “so many”: any more than 0 during such an allegedly dour economy would seem to be extremely gutsy!) Do they have a crystal ball? If so, I want it! No, it doesn’t seem that they have crystal balls, just extreme guts!
So, I read about business and entrepreneurialism. And I come across a hard truth. The title of this article says it all…”It’s Not the Receission, You Just Suck!”
A recent article in the Residential Design + Build magazine piqued my interest. The author states throughout the article, and in the title, that architects/designers should lead design/build projects. Mr. Jauregui makes many great points about the fallacies of the design-then-bid-then-build model, and I refer you to the article to read more about that. He also outlines many of the advantages of the design/build model that I have mentioned as well.
However, to state empirically that the designer/architect should always take the lead on projects doesn’t add up to me. My experience shows that clients do benefit greatly when the builder takes the lead.
Am I slamming architects/designers?
…continue reading Taking the lead: builder or designer? »
Recently we’ve been working on a library addition. For marketing purposes, the board needed a fly-thru of their addition/remodeling project.
This is the latest as a part of their marketing movie. (Other parts of the movie to be added by others, including photos of existing conditions, and music – for continuity)
Contractors, are you using 3D to communicate with potential clients?
Continuing our series following a real-life remodeling project, we come to the point where the design had been vetted by two contractors, and, as we might expect, the project was more than the homeowners had previously stated they wanted to spend.
I’ve been reading more articles, and hearing more advice about where a remodeling project should start. Specifically, these advisors are speaking of the first meeting between a contractor and a homeowner. There are many lamentations throughout the industry that there is not enough time to get to know the client and talk about design during the first meeting. Advice has been given to use that two-hour meeting to talk much about the past projects the contractor has finished or show the client all sorts of financial figures that show them that they can afford the project.