What I want to share with you today is one of the biggest enthusiasm-killers to any project, the shock you get when what you had in your mind doesn’t match up with the actual costs. I’m not talking about when you first start your research, although many of you have emailed with your disappointments. I hear you.
What I’m talking about is additions either during the selection process or during the project. You know the type – you decide to add can lighting to your kitchen. You went online to a box store, added the cost of 4 can lights, 4x $ 20.00 per can (and you weren’t in
You get the bill or change order for $ 900.00.
“What?!?” you say. “Wait a minute; I’m not paying for this! It should have cost 1/8th of that.” Now you’re steaming mad, refuse to pay, hop on the internet and blast your contractor for being a crook.
Hold on. Yes, your contractor was wrong, but not for the reason you think.
One of the biggest common failings in our industry is that we have a tendency to assume you all automatically know what we do AND how we do it. *scratch head* I don’t know why, but we figure just by talking to us, you have somehow absorbed every aspect of our business. Silly, isn’t it? Then we end up all shocked that you would be shocked, because we actually gave you a discount even though we had to drop everything else to accommodate this last minute change and it put us a day behind at another job and now our other client is upset.
Hurt feelings all around, but really? That’s our fault. We need to step it up and recognize no, you don’t know:
Knowing what’s involved is a big step towards understanding. Repeat after me: Failed expectations are the sole cause of anger. Ommm. *grin*
The last few years, I’ve taken time to explain where the costs come from and if I can, in the early stages, so that the adjustments for both budget and expectations can be made. Sure, I still have clients say: “I had no idea there was so much to this”, but at least they didn’t have any surprises.
And that’s my 2 cents for the day.
Kelly Morisseau
FW&D Remodeling Services marketing director, Ned Overton, attended the Internet Success System Master Mind Conference, hosted by Mark Hendricks in Atlanta, GA, starting on October 22, 2009. The main focus of the conference is internet marketing. Attendees enjoyed networking with industry leaders, hands on workshops, special mastermind sessions, and Mark’s famous Q & A session. Mark, pictured at right welcoming Ned Overton to the conference, is one of the few online marketers that offer attendees a special Q & A session to ask any question at all about internet marketing. To learn more about the Internet Success Conference and how you can attend visit http://internetsuccessystem.com.
Previous attendees of the conference stated “This program is truly an educational experience”.
Cindi Dawson of CindiDawson.com said, "I truly benefited from the Internet Success System conference last weekend. I met lots of potential joint venture partners, learned how to create three different types of products very quickly and easily, and had a wonderful time."
Jim Straw, legendary marketing professional, said, “ Anyone who attends this conference will
come away improved”.
Pictured left to right is the legendary Jim Straw, Ned Overton, and marketing genius Ken Compton.
The conference covered topics such as How To Develop a Press Release, Article Writing, Developing Video Presentations, and Using Facebook For Business.
“I generally try to get 1 nugget per day at a conference but at the Internet Success System Conference nuggets were flowing like an artesian well”, said Ned Overton of FW&D Remodeling Services.
FW&D Remodeling Services is located in the Fairlington Historic District in
If you would like more information about FW&D Remodeling Services please visit http://www.fairwd.com.
Do you feel cramped for space? Do you feel restricted when entertaining in your home? Then you should read these suggestions from an experienced design team and Fairlington residents.
Our first suggestion, assuming you live in a Fairlington Clarendon model, is to remove the non load bearing wall and replace the wall mounted cabinets with ceiling mounted cabinets. This makes the most of the space you do have, and opens up the room.
White cabinets or a light finish wood cabinet, such as a honey maple, give the perception of a more open space – dark colors tend to make to space more cave-like.
To add to the open feel, use glass front doors on both sides of the ceiling mounted cabinets. This visual trick keeps the kitchen from feeling closed off, and gives a nice flow from room to room.
Next, install recessed lights to free the ceiling area and focus the cone of light on the lighter cabinets.
There are additional benefits to remodeling your Fairlington kitchen with these suggestions. You now have more counter space. The feel of the open kitchen may spark positive life style changes. You’ll be more receptive to entertaining and perhaps the best benefit; it will increase the re-sale value of your home.
These are but a few suggestions to enhance the look and feel of your Fairlington kitchen.
Everyone wants to help out the environment, but sometimes the green alternative can be the pricey alternative. Not the case though with FW&D. We use products that are not only better for the environment, but save money!
Take the Excalibur model window. This is a window we regularly install in Fairlington homes. Made by Alside, these beautiful windows work for you. They feature PPG’s Solarban 60 Low-E glass. Who would have thought that the type of glass in your window could help the environment? But Low-E works year-round to keep your A/C or heateroff as much as possible. In the summer, this cool glass filters in long-wave solar radiation (the cooler rays). By keeping only the hotter rays out, you still get the pleasure of natural sunlight without the scorching heat of the August sun! In the winter, Low-E glass works double-duty: first it lets warm, short-wave rays into the home for natural warmth; then the Low-E glass helps block the warm air inside, rather than letting it seep back out into the winter air.
Excalibur windows also have Argon gas between the panes of glass. Argon gas is a colorless, odorless, nonflammable, nontoxic and safe inert gas. Heavier than air, the Argon gas creates an additional layer of insulation that reduces the transmittance of heat and cold, but not light. Pretty cool, huh?
What do these big words and fancy products all mean? Well, not only do you help save the world by using less energy, you can save yourself a lot of money! Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill! WOW! Excalibur windows meet the strict Energy Star ratings set by the EPA and the US Department of Energy.
Isn’t it great when doing the right thing is just so easy?
