and disruption. It puts added stress on the re-
modeler-client relationship.
Once a remodel is completed successfully,
there is a palpable sense of joy from clients.
Tere is something about a transformation
of an existing home that provides a greater
sense of fulflment than simply moving from
one home to another. Tere is a victory in it.
Perhaps these many happy outcomes draw a
certain type of professional to the industry.
Those happy out-
comes are at the heart of
the newly revamped cost
and value study from the
National Association
of Realtors, its sub-
sidiary HouseLogic.
com and the National
A ssociation of the
Remodeling Industry,
or NAR I. The new
NA R R emodel i ng
Impact Study, found
on page 22, includes a
consumer survey that measures Joy.
After 18 years of successfully assigning value
to remodeling projects, through surveying its
Realtor members, NAR has added a Joy Score
to the mix. In this issue of Qualifed Remodeler,
we are proud to partner with NAR to present
their report. By assessing cost and value and
now across 10 interior project types and 10
exterior project types, new ground is being
broken. Its impact could be quite signifcant
— helping remodelers better understand which
projects tend to provide client challenges, and
which do not.
Remodelers have the skill and the tempera-
ment for managing their relationships with cus-
tomers. I've seen it for years. But this new report
can arm them with valuable new insights.
|
submit to you a bold generalization.
Remodelers are, collectively, the most
even-tempered business people on the
planet. I am not simply pandering to
my audience by saying this. It's true, from years
of observation.
Tat's why it was such culture shock for
me, in September of 2003, when I moved
over from covering the production builder
market to reporting on remodeling full time.
Remodelers seem to
always have time to an-
swer questions or to pro -
vide background. Tere
is a spirit of serving the
greater good of the in-
dustry and a willing-
ness to provide tips and
ideas. Increasing the
level of professionalism
in remodeling is a goal
of many. No ofense to
production builders, but
they tend to be cut from
a diferent cloth. Tey are Type-A, hard-driv-
ing, business types. Nor does this make remod-
elers any less motivated by proft and results.
Te question in my mind — is it nature or
nurture? Are even-tempered people drawn to
remodeling for some reason? Or, does remod-
eling, with all of its adjacency to stressed-out
clients demand a certain temperament in order
to succeed?
Te need to remain calm is easy to under-
stand. Remodeling requires a lot of face-to-
face interaction with clients. Tose clients are
spending a lot of money to see their homes
transformed to spaces better suited to their
needs. In addition, for those who remain liv-
ing in their homes during remodeling, there is
often a middle period of deep inconvenience
Joy and Impact
Not Simply
Cost and Value
I
Once a remodel
is completed
successfully,
there is a palpable
sense of joy
from clients.
Please change Kacey's title o
8 January 2016 QR QualifiedRemodeler.com
Patrick L. O'Toole
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