Qualified Remodeler helps independent remodeling firms to survive, become more professional and more profitable by providing must-have business information, namely best business practices, new product information and timely design ideas.
Issue link: https://qualifiedremodeler.epubxp.com/i/226896
thoroughly, everything meets or exceeds expectations, the price is right and any unforeseens will be determined on the jobsite," Bacon explains. "It's a fairly simple form, which is the beauty of it. It really seems to have stopped that scenario." CLUTTER, CLUTTER EVERYWHERE All remodel jobs will necessitate contractors working around a homeowner's possessions. Some homeowners, however, have far more possessions than others, and can sometimes be classified as hoarders. Laura Watson, design department manager with The Cleary Co., Columbus, Ohio, connects customers with a personal organizer who helps homeowners organize their homes prior to construction or when they're putting items away after the job is complete. Before construction begins, the Cleary team has a pre-construction meeting with clients to let them know what needs to be moved and what measures the homeowner needs to take to keep possessions and people safe. "If they don't, it'll hold up the job because if our guys feel like they'd be in danger of breaking something or hurting themselves, they won't start the job until that is addressed," she says. Slavin Construction recently completed a huge job that necessitated work in the kitchen, den, laundry room and basement. "These people were pack rats," Bacon recalls. "They had so much clutter in this house. It's one of the rea- The hardest thing we deal with are change orders. –Laura Watson, The Cleary Co., Columbus, Ohio sons they were wanting all this expansion, but at the same time, it didn't look like they were throwing anything out. We had to move huge rooms of stuff to get into another room to complete a certain portion of the job. It delayed the overall job; probably 15 percent of our budgeted production time was spent being movers. The customer became frustrated it was taking longer, so in a respectful and polite way, we had to remind them we basically became part-time movers to get the job done." CHANGE ORDER CONUNDRUMS "The hardest thing we deal with are change orders," Watson shares. Even though material selections are made prior to signing the contract, a handful of change orders are to be expected as the client sees the project coming together. Some clients, however, create more than a few. "We have a job where the client is in constant movement and sees things she wants to change every day; it's hard to keep up with her," Watson says. "It's hard because if your electri- REMODELERS SHARE COMMON FRUSTRATIONS WITH CLIENTS • Clients who request we arrive after 9 a.m. and leave by 3 or 4 p.m. It's hard to get a job done if we don't have the time to do it. • Clients who add on more work but expect the same completion date. • Clients who request myriad samples yet choose none. • Clients who add little extra items, such as hanging frames or fixing issues not included in the contract. • Clients who require extra "management" or hand-holding. • Clients who want us to use unknown products they find on the Internet. Sometimes parts come missing or damaged. • Clients who have end-of-job sticker shock despite approving and paying for the changes they claim to be shocked about. For more information circle 45 ForResidentialPros.com QR December 2013 33