Monthly Archives October 2014

Almost everyone at some time during the home-owning experience needs a Builder/Remodeler. When those times happen, what is the bottom-line criteria for finding the right one for you?

We said in any earlier blog that experience and integrity (honesty, ethics) are qualities in any firm you hire that should go without saying. They are non-negotiables. But once you are confident that your Builder/Remodler can lay claim to those attributes, what else should you look for? What evidence tips the scales in favor of the professional you are considering?

1. IS YOUR BUILDER/REMODLER REFERRED?

One of the first ways to know that your Builder/Remodler will be right for you is to know that he was right for someone else – ideally someone you know well; someone with similar values. When that is true, experience and integrity are usually pretty well established. Happily, over 90% of VISION Builders customers come to us as a result of referrals.

2. DOES YOUR BUILDER/REMODLER LISTEN?

If your “vision” for the project you are planning isn’t the most important aspect of the job to the firm you are considering, something is wrong. How will you know whether or not that is true? The representative you talk to will be a great listener. Not just a good listener; a great one. Our firm is called VISION for that very reason. Your vision for the special room addition, kitchen, bath or basement upgrade is of critical importance to us, because it is to you!

3. IS YOUR BUILDER/REMODLER A LEARNER?

There aren’t many professions that allow its members to “rest on their laurels” — to remain content with past successes. If they do, the “successes” get fewer and fewer. That’s especially true for Builders, Remodelers and home-&-addition Designers. The ongoing new break-throughs in building materials, application methods, product longevity, etc, can give your Builder/Remodeler a real edge – or put him at a great disadvantage! Does the professional you are considering regularly attend industry training events? Is he a member of industry organizations (like “Remodelers Advantage”) who encourage ongoing education and test its members for compliance? At VISION Builders, the answer to those questions has been “yes” for over 30 years!

Most people believe in “comparison shopping.” It’s usually a good idea whatever the product or service. VISION Builders urges you to compare Builders/Remodelers, and to include us in your list of firms to consider. Then compare. We feel confident that when you make the comparison, we’ll make the sale!

Ask most folks what qualities they look for when it comes to choosing a professional to remodel their home or to design a room addition and you will usually hear some version of the “Big 3.”

1. Experienced
2. Trustworthy
3. Reasonably priced

Who wouldn’t want all of those, right? Your order may vary, but however long your list might be, these “Big 3” will almost certainly show up – – and it’s hard to argue with the first one being “experienced.” After all, it doesn’t matter how trustworthy or reasonably priced your Builder/Remodeler is if he has never tackled the kind of project(s) you have in mind.

But while experience is critical to hiring competent professionals, of equal importance is a Builder/Remodeler who is familiar with the many new materials being introduced to the industry almost weekly. Additionally, understanding what installation methods are right for those materials is essential.

In a nutshell, the experienced professional you choose should be able to assure you that the materials you choose are market leaders, and the installation process will make best use of your time and money.

We at VISION Builders are big believers in offering the “Big 3” to our customers. But we go beyond that. We are making every effort to “stay ahead of the curve” when it comes to knowing which materials are available for the projects we undertake. We are educating ourselves regularly through memberships in national organizations, ongoing consultations with local experts, and through cutting-edge training experiences.

Experience is good. We are licensed and insured pros who have spent over 30 years learning our business and serving hundreds of households. But being teachable and willing to improve in all areas of our business is vital to offering the very best to our clients.

It’s more than just a reason to choose VISION Builders. It’s another reason you’ll be glad you did!

About half of the reasons homeowners give for delaying designing, remodeling or building has to do with doubts about affordability: “Can we do what we want to do without breaking our budget? How do we know that the firms we talk to will offer us the best deal we can get?”

The other half involves uncertainties about what kind of firm they need to involve: “Should we get an architect…a residential builder…a construction company…the handyman we know from church?”

At VISION Builders, we believe we can resolve all those doubts and uncertainties for our prospective clients with one, simple tool. We call it our “Ah-ha!” Meeting.

A NO-OBLIGATION INFORMATION SESSION WILL CLARIFY THE PROCESS FOR YOU

The “Ah-ha!” Meeting is intended to answer all the questions and concerns listed above and several more besides. During this informal time together we will be listening to you share your special vision with us. As you talk, we will be sketching and tabulating. The vision for your home that you share with us will gradually take shape in the form of a rough design and initial cost figures.

The most important ingredient in this kick-off meeting is your vision. It drives everything. We don’t want to emerge from that meeting with all the right data (square footage, room functions, cost figures, etc) but having abandoned the vision that brought you to us in the first place!

OUR PRIORITY: YOUR VISION AND YOUR BUDGET

After over 30 years in business, VISION Builders has come to specialize in the challenges of matching budgets with visions. We pride ourselves on being creative and flexible – able to offer a variety of materials and capabilities, as well as contract and payment options.

In addition to knowing how your building or remodeling dreams translate into affordable costs, you’ll also leave knowing what kind of turnaround time you can expect. Your deadlines, like your vision, become our commitment to you.

Finally, you’ll take away a written breakdown of your remodeling or building project, complete with estimates (dollars and time).

OUR BEST ADVERTISING IS PEOPLE

Over our long history of turning remodeling and building dreams into reality, VISION has had the privilege and pleasure of working with hundreds of area homeowners. Over 90% of our clients during the 30 years we have been in business have come to us through referrals. Our new business comes through the positive experiences of customers we’ve already served! We are proud and grateful to be able to say that. We won’t be satisfied until you are one of those satisfied customers.

Give us one short meeting. We’ll give you an affordable way to turn your vision into a livable reality!