There is an old adage in the business world that says “the customer is always right.” Common sense and plain old experience will tell us this is just not true. However, if a contractor wants to continue in business and see positive results from their marketing efforts they should always keep the customer first.
What exactly does this mean? Peruse through the local paper, the billboards, the television ads and the internet websites and what do you see over and over again? You see honest, hard working and knowledgeable contractors spending all their time and money talking about themselves. “Here is my product and my great prices, buy from me” is a common theme. Another theme is to see a picture of the contractor is his nice uniform standing next to his shiny work truck with some catchy slogan. What does that have to do with the customer?
Most customers are in the same frame of mind as a business owner talking to a vendor. They want to know what is in it for them. When the contractor spends the time to Building Contractor Salary discuss a real problem that the customer may be experiencing and the solution to their problem, that is when the customer takes notice and contacts the contractor.
Whether it is a brochure, a newspaper ad or a website the contractor should focus on a problem and their unique way of fixing it. Notice that there is no mention of the lowest price or the quickest turn Construction Services India around. When people have a leaking roof, an air conditioner that does not work or cracked tile their first question is “Can you fix it?” Pricing is secondary when you are the one that has the answer.…
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Choosing the Right Contractor For Home Renovations
Do an Internet search on the words “home renovation” and you will find a plethora of results all leading to businesses in the renovation industry. While there is no shortage of contractors available for every repair or home makeover project, choosing the right contractor or company for the job is of considerable importance. No one wants to pay for poor workmanship, incomplete jobs or worse, nothing at all. Unfortunately, it happens more often than you think. While you can’t prevent contractors from taking advantage of homeowners, you can take steps to prevent yourself from being taken advantage of by simply doing your homework.
Start with Subcontractor Rights referrals
Chances are family and friends are not going to steer you in the wrong direction with your home renovations. Asking for references on similar jobs they may have finished is ideal because you can get a good indication of the contractor’s quality of work and dependability. If that is not an option, consider your local home renovation or home builders association as well as building supply stores.
Background checks
Just like credit card or mortgage companies, conducting background checks on contractors gives you an idea of a business’s reputation and work ethic. Do not be afraid of asking for names and numbers of past jobs. Contractors are not cheap; your research should not be either. Do not settle for letters – those can be fabricated or written by family and friends. A reputable contractor is willing to provide a list of past clients.
Listen to that voice in your head
If you have a poor gut feeling about a contractor, chances are something is not right. A good contractor is easy to communicate with, accessible, returns calls, discusses options for problems which may arise, is knowledgeable, provides estimates on paper and works within your budget. If they falter on any of those items, you might want to move onto the next candidate.
Confirm the qualifications
You would not hire someone who is “read about” lighting to work on your electrical – that is literally playing with fire. Make sure the contractor and their sub-contractors have the appropriate licenses and skills by asking for their business license number and confirming with your local licensing office whether they are in good standing. You also need to validate whether they are insured for public liability and property damage as well as workers’ compensation.
Understand the project
The larger the renovation, the more complicated it will be. Make sure you understand the progression in all of its stages; prior to, during and after completion. Do not leave yourself or your wallet open to unexpected surprises or assumptions or questions. Have your responsibilities and those of the contractor defined and set in writing that way all parties know what is expected of them and who is accountable for what.
Get it in writing
Lawyers are rich because people opt for trust over treaty. Unless it is in writing, you can assume all verbal agreements are non-existent and …
Construction Tools – Do the Job Right With the Right Construction Tools
If you work in the construction business or are getting into it, you need to get the right construction tools to do your work properly. Sure, there are a lot of cheaper items you might be able to use for some tasks, but they might be at the expense of overall productivity, OSHA and other safety requirements, and the quality of your work. You may need to consider getting a business loan if your tool needs are significant or include many expensive items. You will also want to consider getting your equipment insured in the event the equipment is damaged, stolen, or otherwise becomes suddenly unavailable in the middle of an important job.
There are many kinds of Subcontractor Legal Definition tools that are easy and affordable to purchase online. Ask for any discounts or free shipping options you may be eligible for, as well as warranties and the company’s return policy. Knowing these things upfront can help you make a more informed decision about your tool purchase. You also need to ask whether your tools will require assembly in some cases and what options you have to do that. The quality of customer service you receive online, in person, or on the phone should meet or exceed your needs so you can feel more confident in your purchase.
Depending on what type of Construction Contract Pdf tools you are getting, you will also need to think about transportation and storage. If you can carry the tools in a tool belt, storage is pretty easy. If you need to rent a warehouse for a lot of tools, it’s a good idea to have your plan in place before you purchase a bunch of tools and have no place to put them. You may need to consider the purchase of a flat bed truck and trailer or even a forklift to properly transport your tools. You may also need portable generators if you are purchasing heavy duty electric tools like saws.
Once you purchase your construction tools, make sure you or those you intend to use them fully understand how to safely operate and store them. Go through the instruction manual with your employees or consider having a demonstration tool safety seminar. It’s far better to bore your employees with information they may already know than to take the chance of an accident occurring that you could have helped prevent. You may also need to require your employees have or provide them with various workwear or other items for proper equipment use, like hard hats, safety glasses, heavy duty gloves, and steel-toe boots.…
Liverpool Builders – Selecting the Right One
Liverpool is a major tourist attraction in the UK and is a fast growing city. It is a young, vibrant city and was recently the Capital of Culture. If you are looking to build a home or have home improvements you would need to look for a professional builder. This raises the question — which of the many Liverpool builders to hire?
This can be a difficult task, due to the variety of construction companies available, but if one keeps a few simple factors in mind when making their decision to hire a contractor, the process can be a breeze. When hiring builders, it is important to consider the following:
Style of Architecture
Liverpool has a blend of different architectural styles. Most common is the 16th century Tudor architecture. Mixed in between all the Tudor styled buildings are contemporary/modern architecture. Find out if your builder has experience in building the style that you prefer for your project. Also make sure to check your local area council for whether a style ‘change’ would be accepted. There are very few building companies in Liverpool who can build and improve tutor style houses so you may need to look around.
Quality Why Is It So Hard To Find A Good Contractor
When searching the available directories or exploring trade magazines for to hire, try searching online for the business name that you see listed in the directory. See what the builder has worked on Bbb Builders in the past, and determine if they have the capability to do the job you require. You can check a builders quality by looking at photos of previous work and asking to possibly visit previous jobs.
Customer Satisfaction
Use the same online searching method to see if the builders you are researching have satisfied customers. Many customers end up sending in letters of satisfaction to their builders website, and this is a great way to determine whether the builder has good people skills and you will be able to work together. Visit Yo Liverpool and ask if anyone has had previous work completed by the company (Yo Liverpool is a popular Liverpool Forum).
Reputation
Is the business honest? Is it financially stable? Check around and make sure that there are no newspaper articles (check the Liverpool Echo Newspaper) about the company being in a dispute with clients, or filing for bankruptcy. You need to make sure when hiring builders that the business will not try to defraud you, and that they will not go out of business half way through your construction project or home improvement. Often letters of complaint end up in the Liverpool Echo Newspaper (it’s printed daily).
Price
Everybody wants to hire a good builder in Liverpool, and if they could call up the guys who built the pyramids, Buckingham Palace, or the Empire State Building, they would. But quality must be balanced with price, so make sure that the Liverpool builders you hire have fees that you can afford. Make sure they give …
Acrow Props – How To Choose The Right Prop For Your Project
What Is An Acrow Prop?
Acrow props can be seen on many construction sites and are used to support a structure or transfer a load. Construction props are typically used to support concrete form work while the concrete is curing or to support a roof or overhead structure while removing, replacing or repairing a wall or other supporting structure. They are easy to position and are fully adjustable with in the height range of the prop.
Acrow props consist of two circular steel tubes, an inner tube with a top plate that slides up and down freely inside an outer tube which is attached to the base plate. The inner tube has holes down its length so that you can quickly extend the inner tube to just below the desired height and insert a steel pin to lock in that length. To extend the prop to the correct height the top of the outer tube is threaded and a collar, which is similar to a nut on a bolt, picks up and supports the steel pin. So by rotating the collar and moving it up it extends the inner prop. This allows you to achieve the exact height required.
When it comes to using Acrow Props on your project you have a number of different options to choose from. Acrow Props come in 5 different sizes from a No.0 to a No.4, so how do you choose the right prop for your project?
Start With Your Propping Height
Well the first step is to look at the height or distance that you are looking to prop. Do not use props that are too short by making up the gap with timber or other packer and always use the correct length prop for the job. Similarly, if your propping distance is on the limit of the fully collapsed prop it may be best to select the next size down to ensure that there is enough adjustment in the prop if there is a slight variation on site.
The following table is to be used as a general guide only as specifications will vary with different suppliers. Please check with your supplier for their specific specification.
No.0 — 1050 – 1830 mm ( or 3.44 – 6.00 feet)
No.1 — 1600 – 2800 mm ( or 5.25 – 9.18 feet)
No.2 — 1900 – 3400 mm ( or 6.23 – 11.15 feet)
No.3 — 2170 – 3975 mm ( or 7.12 – 13.04 feet)
No.4 — 3100 – 4900 mm ( or 10.17 – 16.07 feet)
Estimate The Load That You Need To Support.
The second step is to look at what load the prop is required to support. You will need to consult your Engineer or other responsible persons regarding the weight of the overhead structure so they Red Door Homes Los Angeles can determine what loads are required to be supported. Where the load is higher than the capacity of a single prop you can use multiple props to increase …
Home Contractor – The Basics of Hiring the Right Person
Being a homeowner comes with many benefits that renting cannot. One of the most often-listed benefits is being able to alter the house to fit the owner’s needs. If you decide to have some work done on your home, you must be completely sure of how you want things to go with this project.
You’ll need to know all the details, including what types of materials will be used, the process that comes with whatever type of alteration you’re making, and have a specific design in mind throughout the project (unless you’ve hired a designer). Once these things have been determined, it’s time to find a home contractor.
When it comes to hiring a professional in this line of tasks, the pluses are almost never-ending. You’ll be able to communicate your Free House Plans With Material List ideas to someone that can make them happen, and he or she might even have ways to make them better that hadn’t crossed your mind.
Home improvement can positively affect resale value if it is quality work, and you’re happier with the place while you’re living in it. Go ahead, hire a professional that fits your budget, is reliable, and is truly interested in your vision.
Researching and Reassuring
While they don’t necessarily have to be, contractor issues are sometimes one of the biggest hurdles to changing your space. Do the homework, double-check references and make sure the contractor specializes in your type of task, and you’ll be just fine. You need to go look at the references (preferably contact at least 2 of them) and ask him or her several questions.
If the home contractor tells you it’s impossible to do what you want on your budget, it’s time to move on to the next one. Only after 3 or 4 consultations should you start to wonder if they might be right (many times, they just see how much work and how long it will take and opt out through this method).
Should I Ask for Examples of Past Tasks?
Of course you should ask! A good contractor should want to show off his or her remodeling task, as it is a great source of pride for most. When you’re looking over past jobs this person has done, ask about the budget each homeowner had. This person may be able to do awesome work, but if it’s out of your range, then you’re just wasting time.
This is one of the most important material investments you can make in a lifetime, so you need to feel certain that you’ve chosen Can A Journeyman Electrician Be Self Employed the right person for the job. Take these steps, ask friends for referrals of people they’ve hired in the past, and get to work!…
Hiring the Right Residential Contractor For Your Home Remodel
So you’ve made the decision to remodel your house. The next thing you need to do is find the right contractor, one who will be able to complete the job Canada Electrician Skills Assessment on time and within budget. Hiring a good contractor involves doing a little research, but doing so will save you from possible problems later on.
No matter what kind of work you are getting done, you should always check with the local builders’ association for a list of good contractors. Using this list, ask the local licensing board if the contractors are licensed, or if anyone has filed complaints against them. The Better Business Bureau is another good resource to Sub Contract Works inquire about contractor information. After the research is complete, gather bids from three different contractors. Don’t always just pick the lowest bid; a bid that is too low is a warning sign that something is wrong. You have to remember that the contractor still needs to pay for the supplies and the costs of labor.
After you have narrowed your list down to three possible candidates you can start asking questions. How many years have they been in business? Do they have adequate insurance? Is the work going to be done by them, or are they going to hire subcontractors? Who provides their supplies? Be sure to contact suppliers and subcontractors, to ask whether they have a good relationship with the contractor in question. Check references of at least three of their past clients to see if the contractor did good work, finished in the specified timeframe, and came in on budget.
When hiring a residential contractor, always draw up a written contract. Make sure everything is spelled out in the contract, including what the project is, how long it is going to take, how much it is going to cost, and a list of materials. This is a time-consuming process, but it’s worthwhile, because having a reliable and skilled contractor will make the remodeling process go smoothly, saving you money as well as possible problems in the long run.…