As a contractor there are many steps to success in business, but there two mayor concerns.
What would be the first one?
Quality work and good timing
THE FIRST BUILDING BLOCKS OF SUCCESS THAT SHOULD CONCERN “YOU” !
Most would tell you that a customer’s biggest concern is the contractor. Not True! Yes, it’s important to research the typical checklist items for: License, Bond, Insurance, Workmen’s Comp, References, Judgments, Criminal record, Etc. But really, it will end up being the intangibles, such as: Honor, Honesty, Humility, Integrity, & Work ethic (whether you’re watching or not) that will make the biggest difference. These are the thing that neither money can buy nor is any certification able to develop. Find an accomplished contractor that you can trust in conversation. Get a sense of the personality… not just the knowledge of the business issues at hand.
Even so, your first concern should be “You” NOT rushing the project. A one month delay or not finishing by Thanksgiving will not even be worthy of memory after years of compliments and the enjoyment of living in the project of your dreams.
Do you know what “You” want ?
The definition of “Success” will vary from one person to another or even from one company to another, as will the order of priorities considered. In actuality there are (3) major variables to consider when determining how we measure “Value” in achieving success for any contracted building project. And these are: Price, Quality, & Performance. They say in business, “Pick any two.” You’re NOT going to get an emergency repair of a top of the line faucet installed on new year’s eve night for $100. But if you’re able to, then know this, you’ve just contracted with someone who is going out of business soon, operating illegally, or really wants to date your daughter.
So ask yourself, “What are my two highest priorities of the three?” If you want great service & quality craftsmanship, then it’ll cost you more. If you’re willing to forgo both quality and performance, you can get whatever you want cheap & inexpensive too. Choose either Quality or Performance and you’re price will probably fall somewhere in the middle of market value with a few frustrations along the way… if you really wanted both. Be honest with yourselves, even Contractors want a Ferrari at a VW Bug price.
I’ve had many customers encourage me to, “Sharpen my pencil” when submitting a bid for a proposed project, and yet all their complaints about previous projects, handymen, and other Contractors were focused on poor craftsmanship, and drawn out time lines of completion dates. Perhaps they would serve themselves better to reconsider their own priorities of what true “Value” is?
By attaining clarity first, “Before” submitting your project for bid, you’ll be able to mitigate many of the concerns that come about from miscommunication. All too often customers call in Builders before getting their design plans & structural engineering squared away first. If you want personal timelines and project flow to improve from the start, this is the simplest way to enhance that result.
Consider the details :
Colors / Styles / Size & Length / Shape / Brand / Left or Right / Balanced or Random / Form over Function / Rental, Keeper, or Flip? The list will seem endless, but it’s your project. And just like when you were in school, you’ll have to do your homework, or pay the price in the frustration of having to make high pressure, need an answer now, decisions down the road.
Hope this resonates with enough of you to help prevent the inevitable challenges from becoming problems. Thanks for reading & choosing BuildZoom for your contractor referral need.
Thump’r - Blue Collar Builders
http://www.bluecollarbuilders.com/
Check up everything including license, insurance, recommendation…That save your time money and health. Good luck.